Llangoed Sevens rugby event

Jun 2 2009

THIS Saturday an Anglesey village will host its annual feast of running rugby.

For the 17th year of the Llangoed Sevens, groundsmen Mike Roberts and Huw Jones, along with an enthusiastic band of helpers, have transformed the village soccer and rugby fields into pristine playing surfaces.

The competition begins at 9.40am and accelerates throughout the day, fitting in 54 matches for senior and junior clubs including a ladies tournament.

The final of a schools Dragons tournament organised by the local rugby club takes place midway through the event.

There are two morning competitions and two afternoon groups which provide the top two teams for the semi-finals with the grand final at 6.20pm.

In the morning groups the village soccer field sees a local foursome – Bangor, Holyhead, Benllech and Porthmadog – battle it out with South Wales visitors Abertawe.

Meanwhile, in the parallel group 200 yards away on the rugby field, a slightly more diverse collection of hosts Llangoed, London KH, Colombia Bogota, Bangor Univerity and Menai Bridge all play each other for the Llangoed Sevens trophies.

Organisers try to seed the clubs as often many opt for the morning with the prospect of the same trophies for arguably less work!

Of the clubs taking part in the morning Bogota have been allowed to drop down to this session after two previous visits where in the main afternoon groups they have been unsuccessful, so the south Americans should be the ones to watch.

Abertawe, in the other group, who feature veteran first class players, should have too much experience at sevens for their opponents.

In the afternoon the village soccer field sees past winners Llangefni, who perhaps prepare most thoroughly for this their most successful competition, take on newcomers and unknown quantity St Albans.

Also in this group are newcomers Warwickshire Ba Bas, comprising invitation sevens players from the Worcester/Leamington Spa/Malvern triangle, and also Colwyn Bay and Congleton.

On the rugby field, meanwhile, local clubs Caernarfon, Bethesda and Llandudno grapple it out with late entries Ellesmere Port and 2006 winners Gwyr, a team from the Swansea/Gower peninsula area who have been regular visitors to the sevens.

In the ladies competition both past winners Caernarfon and Malvern will be tested by new faces Derby and the Cornish Pirates.

The day is extremely well officiated by a loyal band of North Wales referees who often go home a lot lighter having followed an estimated 500 tries to their conclusion!