On Thursday the 26th of February, the yearly Fraser Bird 7s Rugby Tournament came around and due to issues concerning the pitches at Hatcham College; the venue was changed to Adams Grammar School. Having being inaugurated in 1974, the Fraser Bird 7s tournament has always been a wonderful event where different schools under the Worshipful company of the Haberdashers’ come together to play in a series of 14 minute 7-a-side matches.

This year Knights Academy took 3 teams along; the year 7, 9 and sixth form team, who were all playing up an age group. After a tiring 5 hour journey, in which some used to catch up on some lost sleep, the coach finally arrived in Shropshire. A quick change into their kit and an active warm up later, the boys had shaken off any of their pre match worries. The first team in action was the Sixth form team against none other than Hatcham College. It was a fiercely contested game with some great handling being shown, but tries from Kai-Roper Blackman Sheldon Burrel couldn’t stop Hatcham running out narrow winners.  

The boys then had a 30 minute wait before their next match and in this time, Mr Clarke worked on some of the issues that he picked out in the last match. Even though they suffered heavy defeats in their next two matches, which must be said were against the private and grammar schools of Monmouth and Elstree respectively, there were definitely signs of considerable improvements. The defensive line was a lot more organised and the man with the ball had more support with him.

It was this is support play that coincided in the brilliant hat-trick scored by skipper, Damilola Oluokun against the host, Adams Grammar school. Even supporters of the opposing team acknowledged the achievement. By the time it came to the final game, the team had made gradual progression game by game and they produced what Mr Clarke described as “their best defensive performance of the tournament”. They restricted a very technical opposition and it was only for two very late tries that denied them what would have been a thoroughly deserved draw.

In the other age groups, the year 7 and year 9 teams performed immensely well considering that they were playing up an age group and against private and grammar schools that all have vast amounts of experience and players representing at national level.

At the end of what had been a thoroughly enjoyable day out, the chairman of the Haberdashers’ company announced Monmouth school as the 2015 Fraser Bird 7s champions.

It is hoped that the experience gained from playing up an age group will put all the boys in good stead by the time the tournament rolls around next year.

 

Damilola Oluokun, Haberdashers' Aske's Knights Academy.