3^rd October 2016

The first Basingstoke Schools 7’s tournament date kicked off on Monday 3^rd October. This would be the first of the three tournament dates for the Year 7s and 8s. There may only have been a lesser total of 4 teams from 2 schools (Costello and Everest) compete on the day, but that did not stop the goals from flowing in as if it were water on a sieve. In the 6 games that were played, a total of 33 goals were scored – an average of 5.5 goals per game. Like all league based events, a winner on the day was identified; and it was Everest B who were clear winners on the day with 9 points out of a possible 9 – putting them in a greatly desired position going ahead for the season.

8^th November 2016

The second tournament date happened on Tuesday 8^th November. An increase in participation in comparison with October’s version of the competition meant that a total of 9 teams from 6 schools were able to compete against each other.

With the greater number of teams on the day, the format of the tournament was altered to accommodate this; so the teams were divided into two groups (5 teams in one group & 4 teams in the other group), with the top team from each group playing each other in the final.

Come the end of the group stage, two teams indeed did prevail to reach the final; but only one could prevail to win the tournament on the day. The final was between Aldworth and Everest B, and it was Aldworth who won the final 4-0; crowning them tournament winners on the day.

However at this point, Everest B were still leading the overall table by 3 points.

5^th December 2016

The third tournament date took place on Monday 5^th December. This was the last tournament date for the Year 7s and 8s. There were 6 teams from 4 schools taking part; all eager to be the best team at the tournament. With the tournament reverting back to the league format, the team finishing top of the table would win the tournament on the day.

And with 28 goals scored in the 15 games played, it most certainly was an entertaining tournament. The top 3 teams were separated by only 4 points, but the team who finished just about first in every department – with the most goals scored; joint least goals conceded and most wins – won the league by only 2 points. And that winning team was Costello A; who played 5 games, won 4 of them, scored 13 goals and conceded just the 1 goal – earning 13 points out of a possible 15 to seal the tournament win.

But this wasn’t the only tournament title they took. This late surge allowed Costello A to clinch the Basingstoke Schools 7’s Year 7s and 8s title with 23 points from 12 games – 5 points ahead of second place.

31^st January 2017

The fourth Basingstoke Schools 7’s tournament kicked off on Tuesday 31^st January. This tournament date would be the beginning of the four Year 9 & 10 tournament dates. 6 teams from 5 different schools battled it out across 15 matches all round to see which team would be the best on the day. Goals were assured throughout the tournament as in the 15 matches played on the day, 34 goals were scored – with all but three games seeing goals.

Although, of these 34 goals, two teams – Bishop Challoner and Costello A – did not concede a single goal throughout the entire 5 matches; remaining unbeaten throughout. These two teams would go on to finish first and second respectively; although Bishop Challoner would come first by 2 points on the day, courtesy of winning 4 matches compared to Costello A’s 3. This allows Bishop Challoner to position themselves in a greatly desired position going ahead for the season.

13^th February 2017

The fifth tournament date took place on Monday 13^th February. 6 teams from 5 schools competed across 15 matches all round to see which team would top the table come the end of the day.

There were many similarities between this tournament date and the January tournament date. Firstly, it was the same 6 teams from the January tournament date who were competing on the day.

Secondly, in the 15 matches played on the day, 44 goals were scored (an average of just under 3 goals per game); with all but three games seeing goals – a scenario which was seen in January throughout the 15 matches played that day (the only difference being that 34 goals were scored).

Thirdly, the top 4 teams finished in exactly the same order that they finished in back in January; with both Cranbourne and Costello A both having the same number of points (7 and 11 respectively).

However, one aspect that did change in comparison with January’s version, was that the race for first place was even closer than before; as it went down to goal difference. But, like before, Bishop Challoner were victorious on the day – who went a second consecutive tournament date without conceding a goal. This meant that Bishop Challoner still kept their two point overall lead.

13^th March 2017

The sixth tournament date happened on Monday 13^th February. 6 teams from 4 different schools played against each other across 15 matches all round to find out which team would be the winner on the day. In those 15 matches, 39 goals were scored – averaging 2.6 goals per match.

With games seeing plenty of goals; the race for the top got closer than ever. Come full-time of the fifth and final rounds of matches, Bishop Challoner, Costello A and Cranbourne were joint first on points – with the two leading teams tied on goal difference! But virtue of scoring 2 more goals than the nearest team, Bishop Challoner survived the almighty fight that their challengers put up; meaning they still had their overall lead – but still a precarious two points were in it.

4th April 2017

The seventh and final Basingstoke Schools 7’s tournament of the season kicked off on Tuesday 4^th April. There were 6 teams from 4 different schools who competed on this final day; and they provided a fair flow of goals throughout the day. In 15 games, 41 goals were scored – astonishingly 32 of those goals were scored by the top 2 teams on the day! Cranbourne won the tournament on the day by putting a total 16 goals past their opponents without conceding – winning all 5 of their matches; and thus winning the tournament date.

However, the greater prize on the line was the overall seasonal tournament triumph. This was claimed by Bishop Challoner A as they won 4 of their matches, scoring 16 goals, and conceding only 2 goals. This allowed them to take the title by 7 points; while Cranbourne’s performance on the day allowed them to clinch second place by virtue of goal difference.

In total; 8 schools participated in the Basingstoke Schools 7’s across the seven tournament dates – with a total of 17 teams taking part across the season.