On Friday evening, Esher RFC proudly hosted our 2nd U15 Floodlit 7s Tournament, welcoming clubs from across the region for a brilliant night of competitive rugby under the lights.
We were delighted to have teams travelling from Chinnor RFC, Maidenhead RFC and Rams RFC, alongside strong local Surrey representation including Effingham & Leatherhead, Richmond and Dorking. It was fantastic to see so many clubs supporting the event and contributing to a great rugby atmosphere.
Kick off began at 6pm, with Esher facing what would later prove to be one of the tournament finalists, Maidenhead RFC. Although Esher narrowly lost their opening game, they showed great character and resilience, bouncing back strongly in their second match with a convincing win against Chinnor RFC.
Over on the Cardinals Pitch, reigning champions Effingham & Leatherhead began their title defence against strong opposition from Richmond and Rams. Meanwhile, on the 1st XV pitch, Dorking joined Esher and Rams 2nd team, ensuring a full evening of exciting fixtures across the club.
As the tournament progressed, the standard of rugby continued to rise, with some excellent displays of pace, teamwork and skill typical of the 7s format.
The final saw Maidenhead take on Richmond in what proved to be a highly competitive match between two very strong sides. In the end, Richmond emerged as deserved winners, delivering an impressive performance to take the title.
We are extremely grateful to all the clubs who travelled to Esher and helped make the evening such a success. Events like this showcase the very best of age-grade rugby, with players demonstrating sportsmanship, determination and enjoyment of the game.
A huge thank you also goes to the Surrey Young Match Officials (YMOs) and their mentors, whose support and professionalism helped ensure the tournament ran smoothly and provided valuable development opportunities for the next generation of referees.
Finally, a special thank you to Darell for his support of the U15s on the evening, and to the amazing bar staff, whose hard work helped create such a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere for players, coaches and supporters alike.
It was a fantastic evening of rugby, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back again next year.
