PHOTO:
Winners Preseli Lambs
There was running rugby and exciting tries galore before the Preseli Lambs produced a ruthless display of rugby as they claimed the 31st annual Newport 7s title on a scorching hot Bank Holiday Sunday.
There were 145 tries for the crowd to savour and Guto Davies, from the Lambs, was adjudged player of the tournament for his huge contribution throughout.
22 tries for the rampant Lambs
The invitational side, which also included Welsh under 20s cap Ifan Phillips, easily won all three of their group games, scoring 22 tries, before hammering Fishguard by six tries to one in the semi-final and were just as clinical in the final as they claimed the Glyn and Penny Rees Memorial Cup by beating the Gogerddan Raiders by nine tries to four.
Fishguard then retained the Plate by beating fellow losing semi-finalists the Cardigan Exiles 4-3 in ‘golden try time’, after the sides had finished level in normal time.
Nine teams participated overall - and were split into two groups with the top two from each qualifying for the semi-finals; the only down-beat moments coming from injuries to Lambs’ pace man Damien Miller (shoulder) and Fishguard fly half James Griffiths (knee).
Successful day for host club Newport
A large crowd enjoyed an entertaining day of matches, with the weather helping contribute to a highly successful event for hosts Newport RFC off the pitch.
Refereeing duties were shared between Colin Phillips, John Griffiths, David Byrne, and Eirian Edwards.
After the event, Newport RFC Chairman Phil Evans presented the trophy and the £300 prize money to the Lambs, while the Raiders received £225.
Plate winners Fishguard were awarded £150, and the Cardigan Exiles £100.
Group A:
Preseli Lambs 6 Gogerddan Raiders 2
St Davids 1 Neyland All Blacks 4
Preseli Lambs 9 St Davids 0
Gogerddan Raiders 2 Neyland All Blacks 1
St Davids 2 Gogerddan Raiders 7
Preseli Lambs 7 Neyland All Blacks 3
Group B:
Preseli Baa-Baas 1-4 Cardigan Exiles 4
Newport 0 Fishguard 8
Cardigan Exiles 5 Llangwm Jacks 2
Fishguard 4 Preseli Baa-Baas 3
Newport 0 Cardigan Exiles 9
Llangwm Jacks 0 Preseli Baa-Baas 5
Llangwm Jacks 3 Newport 1
Fishguard 2 Cardigan Exiles 3
Newport 0 Preseli Baa-Baas 8
Fishguard 6 Llangwm Jacks 1
Semi finals:
Preseli Lambs 6 Fishguard 1
Gogerddan Raiders 3 Cardigan Exiles 2
Plate final:
Fishguard 4 Cardigan Exiles 3
Cup final:
Preseli Lambs 9 Gogerddan Raiders 4
Player of the tournament (£100):
Guto Davies (Preseli Lambs).