Schools rugby: Academy win sevens as they gear up for Sedbergh

Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools under-18 Cup winners Edinburgh Academy finish what has been a hugely successful season, by competing in the Sedbergh ten-a-side tournament this weekend. I

It will be a big test for Academy, undefeated in Scotland this season, but one which they will surely relish.

Academy, who play BATS tomorrow, gave themselves something of a confidence lift by winning the Caritas Sevens at Myreside last week, beating Howe of Fife 26-5 in the final, and Merchiston 33-10 in the semi-final.

This was the second successive city schools sevens tournament in which Howe of Fife reached the final, suggesting that the Cupar club could be heading back to the glory days of their Schools/Youth Cup double five years ago. Further evidence of their strength was the presence of three Howe players, all at Strathallan School, in the Scotland under 17 side that played against England at Melrose on Sunday.

In the East Lothian Sevens tournament, North Berwick High School scooped the honours winning at under-18 and under-15 levels to complete what has been a difficult season for their 1st XV, with the loss of several top players to private schools.

But head of PE Ron Jeffries insists that his sides are making huge progress. “All our teams competed against many of the top independent schools in the country and at all the age groups we had a number of good results,” he said. “Our senior team played fixtures against mainly 1st XV development sides this year,” he said, “and it was a rebuilding season after losing four of our top players, mostly to independent schools offering scholarships. This situation will challenge us as I see this continuing and probably increasing. We will, however, have a crack at full 1st XV level next season.”

The school will also benefit next season from the appointment of their first rugby development Officer.

Meanwhile, in the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools girls finals at Murrayfield on Sunday, Auchterarder Community Schools won the under 18 Cup after beating Stewartry 37-29, while in the under-15 Cup competition, Grantown Grammar School defeated South Barbarians 41-29 to take the title.

Stirling County won the under-18 Bowl with a 72-7 win over Glasgow-Ayrshire, but there was success for Ayrshire when Carrick Academy won the under-15 Shield final beating Boroughmuir High School 42-31.

The other two titles went to Murrayfield Wanderers who beat Plockton High School 64-15 to win the under 18 Shield, and the Nicolson Institute from Stornoway who won the under-15 bowl with a 66-19 success against Bell Baxter High School.