FOLLOWING an impressive season in the 15-a-side game, Eltham College’s U15 rugby team were looking to take their game to the next level in the seven-a-side format at the Kent schools tournament in Gravesend.

Eltham College started brightly with a 54-12 opening game victory over Kings Rochester, achieved with a well taken hat-trick of tries from captain Oscar Thurley.

James Walton ran in two tries in a 17-7 success against Ravens Wood before securing top spot in the group with a 32-2 triumph over Beths.

A 21-7 quarter-final win against Skinners set up a semi-final clash with Judd and the Eltham College boys came flying out of the blocks with four tries from Adam Calderwood, Alex Tate, Chris Cole and Thurley.

Judd responded strongly and closed the gap to five points but a second from Thurley sealed a 31-26 win.

The final against King’s Canterbury proved to be Eltham’s best performance of the day.

Once again the boys hit the ground running, scoring three unanswered first half tries from Thurley, Cole and Tate to take a 15-0 lead.

Canterbury fought back but some excellent defence from Cole, Alek Pillay, Tom Davies, Walton and Hamish Hamilton kept them at bay and Eltham College were able to close out the game to win 15-7 and become Kent schools U15 sevens champions.