The Chronicle, Summer 2019

43 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

achievement. For many of the Upper Sixth it was their last touch of the oval ball for Teddies, and Tom Wyles and Will Monks scored a wonderful interception try and a deftly-taken conversion respectively to finish off their rugby playing careers in style. All in all, an excellent tournament for St Edward’s to conclude a Sevens season that has promised much and produced it on several occasions. Colts 7s and Yearlings 7s The 7s season started in weather more appropriate to the 15-a-side game with torrentially wet conditions at the Oakham 7s. A couple of narrow losses to Bedford and the Royal Hospital School in the group stages (after a flying start against The Leicester Grammar School) meant the squad would play in the Plate Competition. The boys shared the playing time and dug deep mentally to make the final. One final effort from all the players who were left standing ensured Teddies lifted the Plate, beating The Royal Grammar School in the final and avenging the loss in the group stages. Unfortunately, the Oakham 7s and the precarious nature of rugby robbed the squad of several players. At one point, out of the starting seven players, only two were fit to start the pool stages at Rosslyn Park. Between these two competitions, the boys won a game in their pool at the Merchant Taylors tournament. However, apart from that, we failed to pick up any more victories. Despite this, the squad of players fought bravely in every game and a number of fringe players found themselves with a significant amount of game time. The squad that performed so well at Oakham perhaps deserve the most credit for the success they produced in such appalling conditions. At Rosslyn Park, the U16 and U14 squads found themselves in competitive groups. The U16 VII deserve credit for their battling displays and can be pleased with the tries they scored, with two each against Eton, Malvern and Hampton. The U14 VII should also be mightily proud of their performances, with tight games throughout their pool matches ensuring that, though they didn’t proceed beyond the pool stage, they could leave the tournament with their heads held high and with a great deal of experience banked for the future. They began with a 19-21 loss to RGS Worcester before running Cheltenham close at 26-38 and finishing their matches with a 19-42 defeat against another of those strong Epsom sides.

Sailing

Sailing Captain Leo Wilson and Joe Porter battling the elements at Farmoor Reservoir as they prepared for the Itchenor Sailing Club Schools’ Sailing Championships. It was a positive championship for the Teddies Sailing Club, especially given that the team had not sailed at sea before and were using unfamiliar boats. Particular congratulations to Leo Wilson (Helm) and Archie Screech- Dean (Crew) who placed 35th overall across the 10 races, having also come 22nd in Race 6. Elsewhere, Carlo Graeser (Helm) and Leon Gurel (Crew) placed 44th, and Joe Porter (Helm) and Thomas Sheppard (Crew) came 49th.

Joe Porter and Sailing Captain Leo Wilson