KELLY College took Under 16 and Under 18 squads to Somerset for the Millfield Sevens and faced the toughest opposition the region could provide.

The U18s had to play Ivybridge Community College (RFU Rugby Academy), Hartbury College, Gloucester (Gloucester RFU Academy) and Millfield School, while the U16s faced Millfield School, Blundell?s School and Plymouth College.

The U18s had been struck by a number of key injuries and absentees so the squad, led by captain David Hutchins, travelled with just eight players. Sam Houldsworth, Bradley Stewart and Michael Yeomans all made their senior rugby debuts.

Although the first match against Ivybridge was a disappointing affair, as the team slumped to a 40-0 result, they raised their game considerably to give Hartbury College a scare.

Tries from James Kaminski and a great individual effort from David

Hutchins provided a grandstand finish that sadly Hartbury edged.

The final score was 24-12.

Millfield School proved just too strong and powerful in the final match, winning by a comfortable 32-0.

The U16s fought hard in their group matches, showing great determination and fight. It was all the more encouraging that five of the group were still U15s. Greg Stewart, Kyle Bayliss, Vincent Lee, Alex Pickard and James Rickard all made valuable contributions.

Indeed, it was young Pickard who crashed over for the first score against Blundells, although the team eventually lost 32-7.

There were some fanastic highlights in the match against Millfield as Will Pickard, Martin Cumming and Tyler Shannon thumped into the fancy Millfield Seven but the power and strength of the opposition proved too great.

The final battle against old rivals Plymouth College was another titanic struggle with both sides preferring to take each other on physically, rather than to play slick sevens. The game could have gone either way but ended with Plymouth winning 24-5.