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Sandbach 7s: Port suffer quarter-final heartbreak

Sandbach 7s: Port suffer quarter-final heartbreak

Chris Heal1 Jun 2015 - 16:05
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Stockport’s hopes of Sandbach 7s glory were dashed as they were beaten by the hosts 29-19 at the quarter-final stage of the competition.

Port qualified second from their group after a 66-0 win over Chester and a 24-21 loss to Team Tom.

They then took on last year’s winners Sandbach in the quarter-final, but were beaten 29-19 in Cheshire.

Stockport’s squad contained a host of 1st XV players and this was their first competitive match since the end of the National Two North season on 25th April. It was also their first taste of 7s action for the past few years.

New captains for the 2015/16 season – Kieran Hibbs and Simon Green – were both part the squad that are now hoping to build on this experience from the weekend.

Port were marked as one of the favourites for the competition and began with a commanding 66-0 win over Chester- who they lost to twice in the regular National Two North season.

They were desperately unlucky not to win Group B as they were edged out by another side tipped for this 7s title; Team Tom.

It meant Port took on Cheshire rivals Sandbach in the last eight, but it was the hosts who made it all the way to the final as they beat Lymm in the semis before seeing off Mouflon 24-17 in extra-time of the final to retain the trophy.

Stockport Captain Kieran Hibbs:

"Overall I think we need to see it as a line in the sand. We weren’t at the levels a Stockport team should be at, but that comes from not having had a commitment to entering 7s tournaments with any regularity over the past few years.

"In reality what held us back was a lack of 7s experience and the different way the game is played in this format. Having said that we lost 29-19 to the eventual winners who every year have dedicated 7s squad and training in the summer.

"Learning from Saturday, we will be starting training for the 7s tournaments, and with every minute played the as a squad we are understanding the 7s format even more. Moving forward to other tournaments this summer, hopefully we can maintain a core of the squad."

Stockport are next in action at the Caldy 7s on June 13th and they have applied for the Halifax 7s which are being held at the end of July.

Many thanks to Suzie Kirkham for her updates for Stockport Rugby Club on the event.

Photo credit: Suzie Kirkham

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