YORK’S St Olave’s scooped the cup in Terrington Hall School’s 16th annual under-13s rugby union sevens tournament.

A total of 24 schools fielded 260 boys in the competition, largest event of its kind in the north of England.

Strong performances were put in by other North Yorkshire schools, with St Martin’s Ampleforth winning a place in the cup semi-finals, hosts Terrington Hall, Easingwold and Cundall Manor reaching in the plate semi-finals, Lady Lumley’s and Pocklington in the bowl semifinals, and Ryedale and Malton schools through to the shield semifinals.The cup final was fought out between St Olave’s and Merchiston Castle, St Martin’s Ampleforth having bowed out 21-17 in the semifinals to St Olave’s, and St Anselm’s 31-12 to Merchiston.

In the final, an early break-away try by Merchiston Castle was quickly equalised by St Olave’s Sam Beighton.

A further try from Beighton, two from Nana Danso-Appiah and one from Marcus Taylor, with four conversions by Tom Hatfield, landed St Olave’s a convincing 29-5 victory.

Meanwhile, Easingwold earned a place in the plate final against Sedbergh having beaten Cundall Manor 17-5. Despite a thrilling performance, Easingwold lost 12-5.

The trophy presentations were made by Terrington Hall headmaster Jon Glen, who said: “My congratulations to all the competitors and to St Olave’s in particular for their well-deserved victory.

“As always there have been some golden moments, such as Yarm’s sudden death drop goal in their bowl semi-final against Lady Lumley’s, and I must commend Malton for being the only team to beat Cupwinners St Olave’s.”