The Army Men’s 7s team made it two Super Series Sevens wins from two as they cemented their No. 1 seeding with a perfect day at Newbury.
Having won the opening event at Farnham last month, the Red Shirts continued their blistering form with a brace of dominant Pool Stage victories against Boom Beavers (38-7) and Hong Kong China Rugby (35-14).
Another top display helped the Army overcome Vaquita Hammerheads 33-12, a team they had edged out by a single point in group stage of the first tournament.
A final spot was secured with a 22-12 last-four triumph against the Academic Barbarians, before the silverware was snaffled with a 28-17 success against Shogun – sweet revenge following the 38-17 semi-final reverse to the same opponents at the London Sevens a fortnight ago.
The Army are now in a dominant position at the head of the table ahead of the final event at Bury St Edmunds on Saturday, June 22 – sitting on 40 points ahead of Apache (27), who they beat in the final of the opening contest at Farnham, and Shogun (25).
Both of those would need to win the third tournament and hope for a bad day for the Red Shirts to snaffle the overall competition.
The Army Men’s Development squad finished as runners-up in the Summer Social Sevens competition at Richmond, defeated by an Apache side who scored four tries to the Red Shirts’ two in the final.
There was also heartbreak for the Women who lost to a final-play Akuma Beavers try in the title contest.
Both sides are back in action at the Edinburgh Sevens on Saturday.
Meanwhile, north of the border in 15-a-side action, the Army in Scotland Men were crowned Inter-Services champions following victories against the Navy (53-7) and Royal Air Force (21-5) in a one-day tournament hosted at Orium Stadium.
Words © Richard Ashton
Header and featured image – Alligin Photography © Mark Deller
