In a re-run of last year’s final, the Army claimed the £5000 prize money by hogging possession against a young, spirited Kooga Wailers that contained players from the North East of England and a number of Newcastle Falcons.
The Wailers had signalled their excellence in beating the Samurais 28-7 in the semi-final but their speed, strength in contact and clever improvisation of the ball proved decisive in a seven tries to two win for Her Majesty’s soldiers
In captain Mark Lee, Apolosi Satala and Jo Kava the Army had players comfortable at the very highest level of sevens and all three were quite outstanding in the final.
Satala got three tries to add to ones by Lee, Gerhard Wessels, Mal Magnus and Max Vava and on this form they will go to Twickenhan in a fortnight’s time with an excellent chance of winning their third Middlesex Sevens title in eight years.
Only Tonmawr – in the semi-final – competed with the Army when in the best match of the day, they went ahead with tries through Steve Lewis and guest player Kazawi Nakamora, only for the Army to eventually squeeze home by four ties to three.
Tonmawr had outstanding performers in Ben Davies, Jamie Donovan and the German Nakamora and were the only Welsh side to get to the last four, their best win coming over Swansea – 28-7 – in the quarter-final.
Best of the other Welsh sides were the Young Ospreys and Neath but both were well beaten at the quarter-final stage.
The Ospreys went down 35-0 to the Army whilst Neath lost 10-0 to the Wailers.
Llanelli with forward Luke Evans and half-backs Justin James and new boy Luke Richards in good form were clear winners of the Plate.
They finished in style to claim the £1000 prize with a 45-14 success over an over-aggressive South African unit, the Scorpions.
Andrew Banfield grabbed three of the seven tries, the others coming from the tireless Craig Hawkins (2), the darting James and new signing Liam Gadd.
Mumbles had to rely on a sudden death try from Tom Cushion to pip Cwmllynfell 24-19 in the Shield semi-final and went on to retain their title and claim the £500 prize with a 20 -10 win over Brynamman.
Tries from Matthew Flynn, Will Blaydon, Chris Hopkins and the excellent Aled Jenkins brought home the bacon in the competition restricted to Swansea district sides
Cwmtawe Sevens 2008 results
Main competition
Quarter-finals
British Army 35 Young Ospreys 10; Swansea 7 Tonmawr 28; Samurais 24 Covenant’s Brother 5; Neath 0 Kooga Wailers 10
Semi-finals
British Army 26 Tonmawr 19; Samurais 7 Kooga Wailers 28
Final
British Army 43 Kooga Wailers 12
Plate
Quarter-finals
Carmarthen Warriors 17 Llanelli 27; Mel’s Exiles 38 Stade Frenchay 7; Old Breconians 14 Scorpions 44; Amman Utd 0 8 RLC Warriors 0
Semi-finals
Llanelli 32 Mel’s Exiles 14; Scorpions 24 Amman Utd 7
Final
Llanelli 45 Scorpions 14
Shield
Semi-finals
Brynaman 14 Ystalyfera 12; Mumbles 24 Cwmllynfell 19 (aet)
Final
Brynamman 10 Mumbles 20
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