NORTH Yorkshire schools are the kings when it comes to rugby sevens.

York prep school St Olave's and Harrogate-based Ashville College have won prestigious national titles.

St Olave's Under-13s stormed to the National Prep School Sevens crown at the Rosslyn Park club in London for the third time in eight years.

The squad of Luke Bowler (captain), Robbie Cuthbertson, Teddy Hustler, Josh Cust, Tom Hall, Joe Ibbotson, Christan Wike, Richard Downey, Michael Slingsby and Jonathan Chambers emulated the St Olave's teams of 2000 and 1996 with a series of stirring displays.

They swept through their group matches beating Downsend (London) 39-5, Great Walstead (Sussex) 64-0 and Prior Park (Wiltshire) 54-0 before defeating Caldicott (London) 17-10.

The quarter-final against Somerset-based Millfield was a real thriller with the York boys trailing 15-10 with 20 seconds to go before leading try scorer Richard Downey grabbed a dramatic equalising try and then scored the sudden death winning touchdown in extra time.

The final against Sandroyd (Wiltshire) was a one-sided affair with St Olave's powering to a 45-5 victory.

Ashville's sevens squad returned home in triumph after winning the Royal Navy National School Sevens tournament at Fylde.

They beat King Edward VI School from Lytham 17-0 in the final after beating Queen Elizabeth I School, Wyggeston (Leicestershire) in the semis.

In the quarter-finals they defeated St David's from North Wales after winning their matches against Stanbridge School, Arnold School, Denstone College, Hampton School and the University of Lancaster Academy side in the earlier stages.

Former England coach Roger Uttley and England Under-21 coach Jon Callard recently presented colours to players at Ashville's annual rugby dinner.

Updated: 09:07 Wednesday, April 07, 2004