8 March 2017
Kirkham Grammar School 1st Seven travelled to Bristol to compete for the Tom Varndell Trophy at the Colstons Collegiate School Sevens. Kirkham were confident after winning the Christ Brecon 7's the previous weekend and showed this with comfortable wins over The Cabot Federation School and Bristol Grammar School with try machines Connor Doherty and Aaron Reed getting in on the act. The next game verses top rugby school Clifton College showed Kirkham's strength as they ran in try after a try with Nathan Pope, Evan Powell and Spencer Cope getting on the act as KGS continued to progress. KGS Captain Kieran Wilkinson was pulling all the strings as he set up many a try for other players. Kirkham next opponents were Bath school Prior Park who again were handled with skill and enthusiasm. Kirkham needed one more win to gain a place in the final and faced Oxfordshire School Shiplake College in a closer game KGS ran out winners with Aaron Reed scoring 2 fine tries. In the final KGS faced a very good Abingdon School side but full of confidence ran out 22-5 victors with tries from Nathan Pope , Aaron Reed and 2 from Connor Doherty clinching victory. A first win in this very good tournament.