Against a backdrop of blue skies and scorching sunshine, spectators flocked in their droves into the Greene King IPA Haberden, home of Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, to enjoy a day of exhilarating fast-paced rugby sevens, writes Becky Haywood.
The annual tournament, now in its 10th year, didn’t disappoint, with organisers saying the standard of rugby was astonishingly high.
Premiership giants Saracens proved their credentials by winning the elite tournament, capping their showing with a convincing 40-0 triumph in the final match against tournament favourites Samurai Rugby to walk away with the cup.
Both teams were victors though with Samurai finishing top of the Bounce Super Sevens Series leaderboard at the end of this, the first of four tournaments in the UK, while Saracens were an invitational side for the Suffolk event.
Several high profile sevens players were in action, including USA Olympian Andrew Durutalo, but it was his Samurai teammate Robbie Smith who was crowned Player of the Tournament.
Last year’s winners, British Army 7s, put up a valiant fight for the title, only losing narrowly to the eventual winners 29-24 in the semi-finals, whilst Oxfam won the elite plate final against Scimitar Storm.
Meanwhile, in the open tournament, the crowd were treated to a final between home side Bury Barbarians, sponsored by DJ Evans, and Samurai Academy.
Despite an impressive try in the final minute of the game by Barbarians’ Andrew Devoy, it wasn’t quite enough to claim victory from Samurai, who finished 21-14 to the good and lifted the Open title.
Speaking at the end of the tournament, Bury chairman Mike Robinson said: “It is a huge pleasure to host this event, putting Bury St Edmunds on the world stage for sevens rugby.
“Our thanks to our sponsors Greene King without whom we couldn’t put on such an event, Super Sevens Series sponsor Bounce, Samurai Sportswear and many more.
“I am humbled by our army of volunteers who worked tirelessly to make it such a success. As a club we are a family and it is days like these that prove it.”
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