It was another big day of rugby at Eridge Park on Saturday with the annual Southern Highlands 7s event held.
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Teams from across the state travelled to compete at what has become one of the region’s biggest sporting events.
Bowral Blacks fielded two mens teams as well as an under-17 girls side and an under-13 team.
Men’s coach/manager Matt Gleeson said both sides performed much better than in previous tournaments.
Bowral Blacks 2 made it through to the semi-finals but were knocked out by Iconz Blue.
Gleeson said both teams’ communication and defence was much better in the 2018 event than it had been previously.
A reflection of the club’s success during the 15-a-side-season, there were more players on board for the Blacks this year.
Gleeson said Ryan Knight, Jordan Grey and new recruit Liam Cassidy all performed well throughout the day.
The Blacks will now enjoy a short break before looking to compete in the Byron Bay, Campbelltown and Kiama 7s competitions early next year.
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There was also some excellent rugby on display from the under-17 girls side.
Coach Nicholas Combes said eight of the 10 girls in the team had never played rugby before.
The Blacks didn’t win any of their four matches but still put in competitive performances led by Georgia Combes and Ellie Connell, who were both experienced rugby players.
The side’s first game was against Wests, a team which had plenty of experience under its belt.
Combes said Bowral’s defence improved in the second half.
“They started to work out defensive patterns and held them (Wests) to one try in the second half,” he said.
It was a more competitive game against Gordon in the two tries to one match.
Bowral almost managed to score at the end of the game, but as the Blacks headed towards the tryline, the buzzer went, ending the match.
The Blacks faced a skilled Burraneer side in its third match and finished the day with a match against Illawarra.
Scoring first to take the lead in the final game, the Blacks showed how much they had improved throughout the day.
Illawarra hit back with two quick tries and match finished early due to injury.
Combes said he was proud of the way the team had performed and improved during the tournament.
“They improved every match and their defence really stiffened up and they made some really excellent tackles.”
He said one of the best try saving tackles of the day was made by Bardie Thompson who ran 30 metres to stop an opposition try.
The team will now compete in the Brumbies Super 7s series with the first round in Canberra on October 13
The Bowral under-13 side played well and while they did not win a game, team manager Jess Whyte said it was a great day.
It was the first time the event had an under-13 division and Whyte said it was also the first time the players had experienced 7s rugby.
A combined team, with players from the Blacks, Chevalier College, Oxley College and Shamrocks, Whyte said “they played really well” and it took time for them to get used to the quick conversion.
“They will be a lot stronger next year. The boys loved it, it’s such a quick, fast game.”
Whyte’s son Ben, played in the under-13 Illawarra representative side.
The Illawarriors went through the pool stages undefeated and finished second after a loss to Blacktown in the final.
“Blacktown was a very big, strong side and they deserved their win,” Whyte said.
Illawarra will now play at the state championships in Forster later this month.
Southern Highlands 7s 2018 winners:
Mens Seniors:
Robin Croker Cup
Cup final winner: Sydney NADI
Runner up/ Plate winner: Iconz Blue (NSW Rugby)
Bowl final winner: Northern Suburbs
Mens bowl runner up: Iconz White
Womens Seniors:
Louise Spence Regional Womens Challenge Shield
Cup final winner: Central Coast Seahawks
Runner up/Plate winner: Savusavu
Womens bowl winner: Manly Mermaids
Colts/Under-19
Jim Hindmarsh Cup
Colts Cup final winner: Manly
Colts runner up/Plate winner: Southern Districts
Under-17 boys
Brian Corney Junior Mens Cup
Cup final winner: Cavaliers
Runners up/Plate winner: Manly
Under-17 girls
Cup final winner: Burraneer
Runner up/Plate winner: Wests
Under-15 boys
Al Spence Cup
Cup final winner: Penrith
Runner up/Plate winner: Sylvania Bulldogs
Under-15 girls
Cup final winner: Wests
Runner up/Plate winner: Blacktown Scorpions
Under-13 boys
Dennis Mudd Cup
Cup final winner: Blacktown
Runner up/Plate winner: Illawarra
Under-13 girls
Cup final winner: Gordon
Runner up/Plate winner: Illawarra
