A GROUP of friends who decided to form a rugby sevens team while at a barbecue, defeated a host of more experienced line-ups on their way to a tournament win.

The team, made-up of childhood school friends from Stroud, set about turning the idea into reality and entered the Minety 7s tournament held on May 12.

Not knowing too much about the event, the former Marling and Archway pupils turned up thinking it would be a small affair, with similar groups of friends wanting to do some exercise and have some fun on a Saturday.

It quickly dawned on them that it was going to be a bigger challenge and they were very much the underdogs.

They entered the competition as Minchinhampton as it was the only sevens kit they could get hold of and their ranks were supplemented with a few players from Minch firsts, but the majority of the team was from Stroud.

Minch were up against teams from all over the country, military teams and professional teams, but stepped up to the challenge, getting through the group stage by the skin of their teeth.

The RAF Sevens team were waiting in the semi final and playing downhill in the first half, the RAF took advantage, quickly scoring two tries. But Minch responded well with great work from Kurtis Herbert, Sam Hester, Sam Leworthy, Regan Herbert and Bradley Gardiner.

Minch won the game 28-17 and got through to the final where they faced off against returning finalists Horus Sevens.

They started well with strong running from Leworthy, Hester, Regan and Oscar Adamson combining with near perfect kicking from Kurtis Herbert.

Horus made a final push for victory in the second with the advantage of playing down hill, but a fantastic last-ditch tackle was made by Leworthy which forced the knock-on ending the second half.

The final score was 28-7 with the underdogs becoming top dogs.