RUGBY UNION: Bruner's boost for Bryanston

Tom Bruner, Bryanston's powerful second row forward, was in unstoppable form at the Rosslyn Park National School Sevens in west London yesterday, running in nine tries as his team piled up over 160 points in their four group matches in the Festival Tournament.

In today's last-32 stage Bryanston will face Skinners, who overcame former winners Bedford Modern in a very competitive Group D.

"We've beaten Millfield and won the recent Windsor Sevens so we arrived with confidence," said Bryanston master, Mike Pyrgos, after the first day of the tournament, now in its 57th year, which brings together over 3,000 boys and 334 schools and colleges from all over the country.

The 1994 winners of the Festival Tournament - staged for one-term rugby schools - King's Taunton, were knocked out by the impressive and expansive Bromsgrove School, guided by the Midland scrum-half, Giles Thomas, and Ed Sawtell, who ran in 12 tries.

Liam Botham's Rossall School were knocked out in a last 32 tie against Wellington College 35-7.

NATIONAL SCHOOLS SEVENS (Rosslyn Park) Round-robin winners: Group A: Blundell's. Group B: Tonbridge. Group C: Bryanston. Group D: Skinners. Group E: Worth. Group F: Culford. Group G: Davenant Foundation. Group H: Cranleigh. Group I: Oratory. Group J: Portsmouth.Group K: Radley. Group L: Kelly College. Group M: Bromsgrove. Group N: Epsom. Group O: King's, Canterbury. Group P: Ivybridge. Group Q: Stowe. Group R: Loughborough. Group S: Wellington College. Group T: Rossall. Group U: Oakham. Group V: King's, Worcester.

Photograph, page 40