Gravesend Rugby Clubs Annual Invitation Floodlit Sevens competition was won by Tonbridge Judds, after the final was abandoned at half time following a neck injury to Judds’ player Matthew Barnes, with the score standing at 17-0.

With such a potentially serious injury situation the question must be asked as to why medical help should be so long in arriving at the ground on Monday evening.

The first paramedic arrived some twenty minutes after the call, and the ambulance, with a crew from East Kent arrived at approximately 21.55, nearly fifty minutes after the injury and left thirty minutes later to transport the young player to hospital.

Although the player was kept warm with coats covering him he was on the damp ground with his school coach keeping him still and chatting to him.

He was administered morphine by the paramedic to help with the pain relief during the long wait for the ambulance.

Earlier in the evening, Rochester Maths, Judds, Duke of York RMS and Chislehurst and Sidcup had progressed to the cup semi-finals with victories over Gravesend GS, Kings Rochester, Dartford GS and Campion School, respectively.

Tonbridge Judds had a comfortable 24-7 win over Rochester Maths, while Chislehurst and Sidcup progressed through to the final easing past Duke of York RMS 24-5.

Despite the score standing at 17-0 to Judds at the abandonment, the game was a well contested affair and could still have gone either way with a full second half to play.

In the end it was agreed to let the score stand and the cup was presented to Judds.

Campion who have been coming to the competition for twenty-four years, and in that time have taken the main trophy on several occasions went home for the first time as plate winners following victories over Dartford GS 24-0 and Kings Rochester 27-0.

On Wednesday of next week Gravesend host the Kent schools sevens at their Rectory Field ground, kicking off at 10.30 a.m.