St Charles are Nashua Sevens’ champs
The Nashua Sevens, played at Maritzburg College on Saturday, brought a close to the KZN sevens season in the festive atmosphere of College’s Family Day.
The senior age group in most sevens tournaments is u17, but the Nashua Sevens presented the participating schools with an opportunity to give their u18 players a last run out.
Credit to schools like Westville Boys’ High and Durban High School (DHS), the dominant forces in KZN Sevens this season. They both opted to replace their successful u17 lineups completely, choosing to view the Nashua Sevens as a last hurrah for their u18 players rather than focussing only on winning. Neither was short of quality, but Sevens’ practice was a little lacking.
St Charles College, too, brought back their u18 players. Together, they enjoyed a superb Sevens season in 2023 and from the start of the action on Goldstone’s there was an air of confidence about them, and they gelled superbly. Blessed with pace, good ball skills, and an excellent understanding of one another, Saints went all the way to the title.
They beat Glenwood in the final, scoring a convincing 38-14 victory, but it was another strong showing from the Green Machine. They’ve reached at least the semi-final of every event they’ve played in this season.
The Durban boys notched one of the most consequential victories of the round-robin, beating Westville 24-21, to keep their record clean. Saints, meanwhile, went down to DHS, but Michaelhouse did the Pietermaritzburg school a big favour by edging out DHS 19-17, which kept the Horseflies out of the title decider.
While Glenwood’s u18s just missed out on the title, their u15 side claimed the honours.
They met Maritzburg College in the last round-robin match for both sides and scored a narrow 19-15 win. Soon after, those teams met again in the final.
The contest was more open the second time around, but the outcome was the same. Glenwood utilised a clever, strength-sapping tactical kicking game, which favoured their speed, to turn their opposition around, and to create try-scoring chances, which helped them to a 31-26 victory.
U18 RESULTS
Maritzburg College 12-19 Glenwood
Westville 38-7 Hilton College
Michaelhouse 12-35 St Charles
DHS 29-17 College 7s
Glenwood 31-14 Hilton College
Maritzburg College 5-26 Westville
Michaelhouse 19-17 DHS
St Charles 68-5 College 7s
Maritzburg College 29-19 Hilton College
Glenwood 24-21 Westville
Michaelhouse 26-21 College 7s
St Charles 10-33 DHS
Final
St Charles 38-14
U15 RESULTS
Maritzburg College 38-19 Michaelhouse
Glenwood 29-21 College 7s
Maritzburg College 31-12 College 7s
Glenwood 31-22 Michaelhouse
Maritzburg College 15-19 Glenwood
Michaelhouse 38-17 College 7s
Final
Glenwood 31-26 Maritzburg College
