OP SPORT
Old Pocklingtonians team . OP Dragons team .
OP Elliot Adamson of Jungle 7s Tropics with the trophy .
OPS COMPETE IN THE 62ND JOHN SMITHS POCK 7S
The Old Pocklingtonians and OP Dragons teams finally took to the rugby field at the Good Friday Pock 7s tournament after a two-year hiatus . Yorkshire ’ s oldest and biggest sevens tournament was back at its best with a record crowd including hundreds of OPs and OP families basking in the sunshine and enjoying a full day of high-speed rugby action .
The tournament started at 10.30am with a women ’ s sevens curtain raiser competition . The men followed on at 1.00pm . Aside from the Old Pocklingtonians and OP Dragons teams , OPs had a healthy presence elsewhere on the field with several teams featuring at least one OP player amongst their ranks . The rugby ebbed and flowed right through to 7.00pm in the evening when the day ’ s two best sides provided an entertaining finale . It was a triumphant home coming for former Pocklington School and Pocklington RUFC junior , OP Elliot Adamson ( 12- 17 ), as his Jungle 7s Tropics invitation side overcame the International Penguins , the world ’ s most travelled rugby team , 17-14 .
The Tropics , a team of mates from London and Leeds and Newcastle who hosted their own sevens tournament in Leeds in June , were making their Pock 7s debut , and their reward was to be presented with the Fowler Trophy by the Rugby Football Union ’ s CEO , Bill Sweeney .
Though the Tropics and Penguins deserved to meet in the final , they were both pushed all the way in their respective semis – the Penguins having to pull out all the stops to beat Malton & Norton , the top club side in the tournament , 21-12 , and the Tropics having a similar battle in overcoming Northern Exiles , a team of former Newcastle students lead by OP James Thompson ( 03-14 ) and featuring fellow OPs George Wagstaff ( 06-12 ) and Jack Garvin ( 10-17 ). Northern Exiles stalwart , Sami Eggleston
( 99-07 ) supported in a coaching role from the touchline this year through injury .
Both OP teams fared well in this year ’ s tournament . Old Pocklingtonians lead by Josh Papa ( 96-03 ) and James Tyson ( 02-10 ) started off on the back pitch making it comfortably through their preliminary round match against Hull Ionians to go into the main competition along with Joe Laudage ’ s ( 04-15 ) OP Dragons who got a bye . Both sides then went on to win their respective first round matches by similar margins to reach the quarter finals . At this stage , the level of play went up a notch and both OP teams found themselves on the back foot against much stronger opponents with Old Pocklingtonians losing to Northern Exiles 47-7 and OP Dragons overpowered 61-0 by eventual winners , Jungle 7s Tropics .
Despite being knocked out of the competition , both OP teams thoroughly enjoyed their day and were more than ready to hit the beer tent at the end of their matches .
In the Plate Competition , Hull Ionians beat York Saints 45-0 whilst the women ’ s competition saw Wetherby beat Malton & Norton 25-5 to lift the cup .
Thank you to all OPs who came back to play for the Old Pocklingtonians and OP Dragons and for Patrick Dare for coaching and supporting the teams on the day . For any OPs considering playing or getting an OP team together for next year ’ s tournament , please do get in touch with the OP office who can help with your team entry , player recruitment , kit sponsorship / design / ordering as well as support on the day .
OLD POCKLINGTONIANS TEAM : Josh Papa ( 96-03 ), Charlie Thompson ( 99-10 ), James Tyson ( 02-10 ), Jacob Sherwood ( 05-12 ), Josh Wagstaff ( 06-14 ), Ben Pettifer ( 08-18 ), Oli
Rayner ( 14-18 ), Kieran Wilde ( 07-18 ), Harry Matthews ( 15-20 ), Lucas Powell ( 18-20 ), Ben Maycock ( 14-21 ), Danny Ratcliffe ( 11-21 ), Lewis Papa ( Coach , 96-03 ).
OP DRAGONS TEAM : Jim Hanley ( 08-15 ), Joe Laudage ( 04-15 ), Charlie Sleigh ( 08-15 ), Will Stephenson ( 05- 15 ), Will Wraith ( 08-16 ), Ed Wraith ( 08-18 ), James Rial ( 16-20 ), Sam May ( 12-19 ) ( not pictured ). Guest players ( due to late availability ): Eddie Dixon , Tom Stevens .
OLD POCKLINGTONIANS KIT SPONSORS :
APEX Mortgage & Protection UK Ltd , Mirror Doors Direct , Michael Readman Lawnmower Services Ltd
OP DRAGONS KIT SPONSORS : Yorkshire Rhubarb , Wicstun Veterinary Group , T Soanes Farming , SID Ltd
To sponsor OPs at Pock 7s
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