The Maharashtra boys’ and girls’ teams warmed up nicely for the sterner tests ahead as they convincingly won both their respective pool matches in the ‘Societe Generale Junior (boys’ and girls’ under-18) National Rugby Sevens Championship 2016’, played at the Bombay Gymkhana ground on Thursday. The all-India Championship is being conducted by Rugby India, in association with Societe Generale and Rugby Association of Maharashtra (RAM).
Action during the girl’s match between Maharashtra and UP
The Maharashtra boys started their campaign with a fluent 19-0 win over Jammu & Kashmir and later in the day outplayed Chhattisgarh 40-0 to finish at the top of Pool-E and qualify for the pre-quarter-finals. Jammu & Kashmir defeated Chhattisgarh 19-0 to finish second in the pool.
The state girl’s also recorded resounding victories in Pool-D. Maharashtra blanked Andhra Pradesh 34-0 and then tamed Kerala 22-0. In the third pool match, Kerala defeated Andhra Pradesh 10-0. The Maharashtra girl’s have now sealed their place in the quarter-final play-offs.
Action during the boys’ Pool-E league match between Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh
Meanwhile, defending champions West Bengal (boys) and Odisha (girls) also showed good form and went on to comfortably win their respective pool matches to also advance to the next round.
Results – Girls’ – Pool A: Odisha bt Karnataka 28-0, Uttar Pradesh bt Karnataka 15-5, Odisha bt Uttar Pradesh 34-0.
Pool B: West Bengal bt Gujarat 41-0, Jammu & Kashmir bt Gujarat 15-5, West Bengal bt Jammu and Kashmir 38-0.
Pool C: bt Delhi 42-0, Rajasthan bt Delhi 15-5, Bihar bt Rajashthan 38-0.
Pool D: Maharashtra bt Andhra Pradesh 34-0, Kerala bt Andhra Pradesh 10-0, Maharashtra bt Kerala 22-0.
Boys’ – Pool A: Kerala bt Punjab 10-0, West Bengal bt Punjab 43-0, West Bengal bt Kerala 52-0.
Pool B: Daman bt Uttarakhand 10-0, Tamil Nadu bt Uttarakhanad 38-0, Tamil Nadu bt Daman 35-5.
Pool C: Haryana bt Gujarayt 15-7, Odisha bt Gujarat 36-0, Odisha bt Haryana 17-7.
Pool D: Uttar Pradesh bt Karnataka 5-0, Delhi bt Karnataka 10-0, Delhi bt Uttar Pradesh 20-0.
Pool E: Maharashtra bt Jammu & Kashmir 19-0, Jammu & Kashmir bt Chhattisgarh 19-0, Maharashtra bt Chhattisgarh 40-0.
Pool F: Rajasthan bt Andhra Pradesh 15-0, Bihar bt Andhra Pradesh 30-0, Bihar bt Rajasthan 24-0.