Kirkcaldy Rugby Club head coach Quintan Sanft has mixed feelings after watching his team reach Kirkcaldy Sevens semi-finals

Kirkcaldy head coach Quintan Sanft has praised the Kennedy twins – Callum and Timmy – for being his side’s two star men in last Saturday’s home Kirkcaldy Sevens rugby tournament at Beveridge Park, which saw the Blues qualify for the semi-finals of a tournament eventually won by Inverness-based Highland.
By Craig Goldthorp
Published 24th Apr 2024, 10:12 BST
Updated 24th Apr 2024, 10:12 BST
Kirkcaldy head coach Quintan Sanft watches his team playing at last Saturday's home sevens tournament (Pics by Michael Booth)Kirkcaldy head coach Quintan Sanft watches his team playing at last Saturday's home sevens tournament (Pics by Michael Booth)
Kirkcaldy head coach Quintan Sanft watches his team playing at last Saturday's home sevens tournament (Pics by Michael Booth)

In the pool stage, Kirkcaldy – overall winners at Portobello Sevens the previous weekend – recorded victories over Howe of Fife, Dunfermline and Hamilton and lost to Dundee, progressing to the last four where they lost to eventual runners-up Hearts + Balls, a charity team helping players and families who have been impacted by catastrophic injury.

Boss Sanft told the Fife Free Press: “Callum and Timmy scored most of our tries.

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"Both were quick and good on their feet which really suits sevens rugby because sevens players have more pitch to play with.

Highland players and coaching staff are pictured after their overall win at Kirkcaldy SevensHighland players and coaching staff are pictured after their overall win at Kirkcaldy Sevens
Highland players and coaching staff are pictured after their overall win at Kirkcaldy Sevens

"There was more room for them to use their footwork.

"Overall we did well early in the tournament (at which each game consisted of two halves of seven minutes).

"Right up until that last pool game against Dundee. Obviously when you get to the harder games, one crucial mistake can cost you when you play against good teams.

"And then the same thing happened in the semi-final. It just came down to one try, which Hearts + Balls scored with 30 seconds to go to win the game.

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Kirkcaldy beating Hamilton during the pool stage at Beveridge ParkKirkcaldy beating Hamilton during the pool stage at Beveridge Park
Kirkcaldy beating Hamilton during the pool stage at Beveridge Park

"I was disappointed for my players really because they were playing some good rugby.

"But overall for a club like ourselves it was just good to have a sevens back up and running and to have a day like we had, in terms of the sun came out to play.

"There was a great amount of people there. We had our under-18s, our ladies and of course our seniors playing.

"It was overall a good day for us even though we didn’t do the business on the park in terms of winning the tournament.

Howe of Fife women's and colts teams both won their respective competitions at Kirkcaldy SevensHowe of Fife women's and colts teams both won their respective competitions at Kirkcaldy Sevens
Howe of Fife women's and colts teams both won their respective competitions at Kirkcaldy Sevens

"But in terms of the club itself, we won that way.

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"We worked hard to make sure that the tournament went ahead for the first time in five years and that it was successful, so overall I’m happy.”

The sevens season continues for Kirkcaldy for another three weekends.

They travel to Crieff this Saturday before going to Howe of Fife’s tournament the following weekend and finishing off with Perth Sevens on Saturday, May 11.

Sanft added: “We won the Portobello Sevens and we made the semi-finals of our one so hopefully we just keep building on.”

Related topics:KirkcaldyBlues

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