BISHOP of Hereford Bluecoat School's squad provided an appropriate farewell for organiser John Escott by winning the under-14 section of Herefordshire Schools Rugby Union's 45th Annual Invitation Sevens Tournament at Minster College, Leominster and Luctonians on Saturday.

Escott, who was head of sport at Bishop's for many years and first entered a team from the school in the tournament way back in 1965, has decided to end his involvement with the competition which he has organised for the past 20 years.

"It's a nice round figure to finish on and now it's time for someone else to take it on," he said.

"I've got some wonderful memories of the tournament. The best game I ever saw here, or in any sevens competition, was an under-18 semi-final between Bassaleg, who had Stuart Barnes - later of Bath and England - at fly-half, and Llandovery, who had Aled Williams - later of Swansea and Wales - as their fly-half."

Bishop's provided one of the tournament highlights by winning their final against Dwr-y-Felin by 42-0 after seeing off Surrey sides Reigate 28-7 and Wimbledon 35-0 in the semi-final and quarter-final respectively.

The quality of Bishop's win can be gauged from the fact that it was Reigate and Wimbledon who had recently contested the final of the Surrey Sevens with Reigate coming out on top.

Bishop's are the first Herefordshire school to win any of the tournament sections since 1996, when Hereford Cathedral School also carried off the under-14 section.

Herefordshire involvement in the under-16 competition ended at the quarter-final stage when Hereford Cathedral School and Bishop's bowed out to Cwm Rhymni and eventual winners Gwyr respectively.

Gwyr, from Gowerton near Swansea, went on to beat Plymouth College in their semi-final before seeing off Bromsgrove School 36-12 in the final.

Millfield's all-conquering squad registered their 13th consecutive sevens tournament win in the under-18 tournament.

The Somerset school scored an emphatic win in the final, seeing off Strade, from Llanelli, by a thumping 46-0 margin.

They had previously scored a 31-0 success over another Llanelli school, Coleg Sir Gar, in the semi-final and seen off Whitchurch 43-0 in the semi-final.

Malvern and Strade had both managed a try against Millfield in the group stages but a points tally of 250 for and just 10 against says something about Millfield's current extraordinary dominance in sevens rugby.

Their captain, Chris Robshaw, the England age-group captain, received the trophy from John Escott at the end of the tournament.

RESULTS

UNDER-14 TOURNAMENT

Quarter-finals: Wimbledon 0, Bishop's 35; Reigate 42, Strade 5; Llanhari 14, Dwr-y-Felin 28; Colston's 19, Cwm Rhymni 21.

Semi-finals: Bishop's 28, Reigate 7; Dwr-y-Felin 21, Cwm Rhymni 14.

Final: Bishop's 42, Dwr-y-Felin 0

UNDER-16 TOURNAMENT

Quarter-finals: Whitchirch 17, Bromsgrove 19; Cwm Rhymni 34, Hereford Cathedral 10; Old Swinford Hospital 14, Plymouth 19; Gwyr 40, Bishop's 21.

Semi-finals: Bromsgrove 12, Cwm Rhymni 5; Plymouth 14, Gwyr 28.

Final: Gwyr 36, Bromsgrove 12.

UNDER-18 TOURNAMENT

Quarter-finals: Glantaf 19, Millfield 2nd 31; Old Swinford Hospital 7, Strade 36; Colston's 17, Coleg Sir Gar 31; Millfield 43, Whitchurch 0.

Semi-finals: Millfield 2nd 14, Strade 31; Coleg Sir Gar 0, Millfield 31.

Final: Millfield 46, Strade 0.