Belmont Abbey.—G. Bellamy, G
D'Arcy. A. Watklnson. J. Vella
D. de Sollar. J. Doubleday (capt), G
d'Atteck.
Guardian 29/3/74
Belmont's push tells against Reigate
On a cool day of unpredicta-
bility Belmont Abbey . from
Hereford came through to win
the Open tournament in the
Rosslyn Park National Schools
Sevens at Roe'hampton yester-
day evening. Reigate, the
runners-up last year who had
progressed through the sterner
top half of the draw, could not
wrestle enough of the ball from
the solid Betenont side in the
.final and were beaten by a goal
to a try.
Neath, who had looked rather
obvious favourites found that a
hard and physical approach was
not to their liking and went out
in a controversial match to St
Edward's from Liverpool in the
quarter-finals. Orrie Fenn, of
Neath, expressed disapproval to
•referee Stone, lost his side 10
yards, and from the tap penalty
St Edward's scored a try. Then
St Edward's scored another try,
which -was converted, when the
ball appeared to have been
knocked on. After that, Neath
simply lost interest.
Millfield, like Neath and Reigate
in the strong top half of the draw,
were also upset early on by
another hard side. It was
expected they would come through
to meet Reigate in the quarter-
finals, but St Brendan's from
Bristol played very determined
football and . squeezed through
6-4, only to go out 16-7 to Reigate
in the next round.
In the semi-finals Reigate were
given a tough time indeed by St
Edward's in what had become a
most competitive day's football.
even though the true skills of
sevens was lacking. Reigate
eventually survived 8-4 in extra
time. Meanwhile Belmont Abbey
had been picking off opponents
in the bottom half. They dis-
missed Cowley the holders in -
their first match 10-0, obliterated
Coleraine 20-4 but then struggled
against St Benedict's in the semi-
final before winning 10-6.
In the final Bellamy went away
for the Beimorat try and this was
converted by Wa'tkinson. It was
apparent early on that Belmont
had the strength and technique
to retain possession. However, in
the second half Brown managed
to slip over for a try for Reigate.
If Cooper could have converted
there would have been extra
time. But he missed, and Belmont,
runners-up in 1970 to Llandovery,
had won the Open for the first
time. '
Once again the tournament,
with 215 schools taking part, has
been superbly organised. The
weather, apart from 'the first day,
could have been warmer but the
enthusiasm was still there —
typified, perhaps, by Highgate,
who got together a seven from a
school where soccer is played.
They did not score a single point
but they made one for rugby.
Reigate.—M. Naylor. R. Hoolahan
N. Brown, D. Cooper, S. Jones. D
Playtorc (capt), M. Bates.
Belmont Abbey.—G. Bellamy, G
D'Arcy. A. Watklnson. J. Vella
D. de Sollar. J. Doubleday (capt), G
d'Atteck.
Referee.—D. 0. Spyer (London
Society)
FOURTH ROUND
Aylesbury 13. Relgate 16; St Bren-
dan's 6. Mlllpeld 4; St Edward's 16,
Truro 0:. Neath 28, Merchant Taylors
6; St Benedict's 11, Sollhull 0; Emanuel
B, Kings 9; Coleralne 17 Llandovery
0; Cowley 0, Belmont Abbey 10.
QUARTER-FINALS
Relgate 16. St Brendan's 7; St
Edward's 10. Neath 0; St Benedict's
10, King's 6; Coleralne 4, Belmon't
Abbey 20.
SEMI-FINALS
Relgate 8, St Edwards 4; St Bene-
dict's 6, Belmont Abbey 10.
FINAL
Reigate 4, Belmont Abbey 6.
PLATE FINAL
Rydal 19. Royal Belfast Academical
Institute 6.
JUNIOR SCHOOLS FINAL
Trinity 0, Emanuel 10.
PREPARATORY SCHOOLS FINAL
Caldlcott 13. Gresham's 8.
The Times 29/3/74
Competance confounding greater pace and flair
By Peter Marson
Reigate GS 4 Belmont Ahbey 6
Belmont Abbey, from Hereford,
won the open competition in the
Rosslyn Park schoolboys' seven-a-
side tournament at Roehampton
yesterday. They beat Reigate in
the final, by a goal to a try. Deftly
stealing their way through the
| lower half of the draw, Belfflont's
overall competence came to con-
found the greater pace and flair of
Reigate, destined for the second
year to be runners-up, and the
most successful school among half
a dozen others in the upper half
of the draw.
Belmont scored first with a try
by. t'heir speedy wing Bellamy, and
Watkinson's conversion gave them
a lead of six points at half-time.
Belmont's forwards successfully
denied Reigate possession of the
hall thereafter until late in the
game, when Brown threaded his.
way to the line for a try. With no-
side imminent, Reigate's fortunes ,
rested in Cooper's kick which,
from a wide angle, flew wide of
the target. Belmont, who reached
the final for the first time in 1970
when they .were beaten 6—0 by
Dandovcry, scored 82 points
gainst 18 in their six matches.
Both of the semi-final games
were hard fought, all four teams
being in with an excellent chance.
In the first, Reigate scored a try
in the first period, and St Edward's
drew up alongside in the second
half. In extra time Reigate scored
the try that put them into the final.
St Benedict's scored first in their
match,, and a conversion put: them
six points up at half-time. Belmont
Abbey came back in the second
period to win with two tries, the
second of which was converted.
RIEGATE OS ; M. Naylor, R. Hoolaoan,
N. Brown. D- Cooper, S. Jones, B, Playford,
M. Bates.
BELMONT ABBEY : G. Bellamy, T
tyArcy. A- Watteinson, J. VcH8. D. Desoliar
.1. Doiibicdav. Cr. D'AtTCuk.
Referee : "0. 0- Spyer I'London Society).
OPEN COMPETITION : Fourth round :
Aylcsbury 1.1 Reigate G.S 16; St Biendan's,
BriBlO] 6. MlHt4;d 4: Sl Edward's. L;ver-
pool 16. Truro 0 : Neath 2?, Merchant
Taslors'. Crosby ^ : St Benedict's, Eaiins XI.
Solihull 0 ; Fnianue] 8. Kin.g'fi. Maccl<-rfic)<i
9 : Coleraine 17. Llandovery 0 ; Cowley.
Lancashire 0, Bclrnom Abbey 10-
OUARTFR-T-rNAI- ROUND : Rciaatt OS
tfi. Sl Brendan's ~ ; Si Fdward's Liverpool
10. Neath 0 : Sl Benedict"^ iO. King^,
Maccle&fieid h : Co'rrains 4. B^fmont Abbey
" SEMI-FINAL ROUND : Rcigatt GS 8 'it
Fdward's. Liverpooi 4 : St Benedict's 6. Bel-
mont Abbey 10
FINAL ROUND : KeisMtc GS 4, Beimom
Ahbev ft
PLAI E COMPETITrON : Firal round :
R-yda! tQ. Royal Belfast Acariemiai! In&ti-
"'J£"Nl6R SCHOOLS FESTIVAL: Flnai
round : Trinity 0. Errianuel 10
I'RFPARATORY SCHOOLS .FESTIVAL :
Pina; TOund : Ca'dicott 33. Oreshsm't R-
National Schools Sevens
The Telegraph
Belmont Reap Reward
By JOHN MASON
BELMONT ABBEY'S
steadiness at all times
was rewarded with victory
for the first time in. the
Open competition of the
National Schools Sevens,
organised by Rosslyn Park,
at Roehampton yesterday.
Though needing to replace
their scrum-half because of in-
jury for the final against Rei-
gate, they were firmly decisive,
busy in support and fine ball-
winners.
A try in the first half by
Bellamy, converted by Watkinson,
was the only score until the last
seconds. Brown then escaped Bel-
mont's well-organised cover but
could not touch down as near to
the post as he would have liked.
All hinged on Cooper's conver-
sion: if he was successful extra
time had to be played. He missed,
and Reigate, for the second year in
succession, were runners-up.
That was about right because
Belmont, for whom Bellamy was
quite outstanding, had reduced
error to a minimum. Teams in the
final were:
Reigate.—M. Naylor; R. Hoo'lahan.
N. Brow'n, D. Cooiper, S. Jo'n'es. D.
P'layford (oapt.), M. Bates.
Belmont Abbey. —— 0, Beilia.mv; T.
d'Arcy, A. Waitkinson. .7. Vella.'D. de
ZoiIIar, J. Doubleday (oa'p?.). G. d'Attack.
Referee. — D. 0. Spever (London
SooiBty).
In the first semifinal, St
Edward's, Liverpool, played excel-
lently and besides scoring first,
took Beigate to extra time before
being beaten.
Belmont, though a player short
for a while, kept the ball away
from the speedy St Benedict's
seven in the other semi-final and
won deservedly.
Even as breakfast were being
digested, Reigaite had a sharp
tussle with Aylesbnry and were
close, to being beaten. On the
adjacent pitch St Brendan's and
Miilfield were settling old scores.
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We have
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