KELLY recently hosted the first rugby 10s competition to be held at the college. It provided an excellent opportunity to prepare for the forthcoming Sevens competitions next month at Millfield School and Taunton RFC and then the Devon and National Sevens tournaments in March. Kelly College played a powerful North Devon College team in the opening match. The visitors defended well in the opening minutes but after a break from Gareth Bater, Cassidy Williams drove over out wide. Greg Stewart converted confidently. Kelly found themselves on the back foot for much of the remaining time in the half but managed to hold out to lead 7-0 at half time. After the break North Devon scored an unconverted try and it looked like Kelly were going to hold on for the win but in the final moments, North Devon broke through once more and scored under the posts. The final whistle blew and Kelly had lost 7-12. There was barely time to catch a breath and the Kelly team were on again this time to do battle against Paignton Community College. The very wet, heavy conditions sapped player energy and made flowing rugby difficult, but Kelly managed to score a converted try and hold on for a narrow win 7-0. There were impressive performances form the youngsters in the squad ? Greg Stewart at scrum half, Vinny Lee, Freddie Frost and Simon Jeffery in the second row were particularly good. In game three, North Devon comfortably beat St. Boniface College 20-0 and then went on to win the competition with a convincing win over Paignton Community College, 25-0. Kelly concluded proceedings with a tight match against St. Boniface which finished 5-5 and cemented a runners? up spot for the seventeen man squad.
