Premiership Rugby 7s Series underway

Worcester will have to overcome an impressive Quins outfit to win the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series after the London side swept all before them in the opening round in Bath on Friday.

And Quins will be joined at the Stoop on August 5 for the finals by Friday’s hosts Bath who sneaked home by the slimmest of margins ahead of West Country rivals Exeter.

Warriors kick off their own campaign at Edgeley Park in a fortnight, taking on hosts Sale, Leicester and last year’s runners-up Newcastle.

And Worcester will have taken note of Quins who conceded just three scores while they racked up 15 tries, Ross Chisholm grabbing a hat-trick against Exeter and the outstanding Walker getting two against rivals London Irish.

There were several impressive performers in the Quins ranks including sevens specialist Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Argentinean fly-half Ben Urdapilleta and Chisholm – who was awarded the official man-of-the-tournament award.

But while Quins’ progress to the final was never in any doubt, Bath’s place was only secured in the final match against Exeter.

Tom Heathcote’s double helped secure their passage by the narrowest of margins as they were roared on by the majority of the 4020 crowd inside the Rec.

That spelt the end of both Irish and Exeter’s tournament despite the best efforts of the Exiles’ 17-year-old livewire Anthony Watson and the Chiefs’ Jack Arnott.

Quins kicked things off in impressive fashion putting hosts Bath to the sword 24-5 in the opening game.

Miles Mantella got the first try of the competition, with Chisholm, Lindsay-Hague and Sam Smith also chipping in, and Heathcote scoring the hosts’ only try.

In the second game, London Irish made a flying start with three first-half tries, two from Guy Armitage – younger brother of England internationals Delon and Steffon – and another by young winger Watson.

But Exeter mounted a sensational comeback with two tries from Arnott, and another with time already up from Matt Goddard, to nick a draw.

That performance clearly took it out of Exeter as they were put to the sword by Quins in the next game 36-0, Chisholm helping himself to a hat-trick and Walker also getting on the scoresheet.

And London Irish’s late woes continued as this time hosts Bath pounced to snatch a 26-22 victory from the jaws of defeat.

Bath captain Paul Roberts took advantage of a slip in the Irish midfield to go over unopposed in the last move of the game after the Exiles had appeared to get out of jail through Pete Synott.

Quins completed their impressive evening against rivals Irish, recovering from conceding an early try to win 26-12.

Walker was the star of the show running in two tries as the Exiles struggled to overcome the fatigue of back-to-back games.

But the greatest drama came in the final game with both Bath and Exeter having qualification in their reach and it showed with the lead changing hands several times.

And even though Henry Slade’s late try gave the Chiefs a 21-17 victory, Bath’s losing bonus point put them through on points difference.

Tickets for every round of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series are available through www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling 0844 847 2492


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