22/05/2026
LIT SUPER SEVENS SERIES UK - Leg 2 Recap - Oxford Harlequins RFC
We were drawn in a pool with Saracens Senior Academy - fresh off winning the Henley 7s - and Conquer Knights, who had topped our group the week before. No soft touches. Good.
*Game 1 vs Saracens - 19-36*
A big, physical Saracens side who knew exactly what they were doing. They overwhelmed us at the ruck and used their size relentlessly. But our lads put their bodies on the line and showed that with ball in hand, we could hurt anyone - scoring 3 from 4 times we held onto it. Errors cost us, not effort. Shawn Ingle showed real class throughout, and Quentin Querl - turning back the clock - ran in 2 tries with the pace he's always been known for. Try scorers: Quentin Querl (2), George Williams (1).
We'd have loved another crack at this Saracens side. A marker for what this squad can aspire to.
*Game 2 vs Conquer Knights - 24-14*
Context matters here. Conquer Knights had just come from 20-0 down to beat Saracens 21-20 with a last-minute try. If we won by 9 or more, we'd steal second in the group and reach the Cup quarter-finals.
It started with a moment that changed the game before it began. Viliame Salusalu made a try-saving tackle over our own line, forcing a knock-on. From there, the Dogs took control.
Marcus Hendry - who hasn't played rugby in months - produced a brilliant cut back in our own 22, broke the line, and ran the full length to score.
7-0. Lance Kruger, set up brilliantly by George Williams and Viliame Salusalu, handed off the last defender to make it 12-0.
Then came a defensive spell that was as good as anything we've produced - Charles Hilliard and George Williams bundling former 50-cap Welsh 7s international Iwan Pyrs Jones into touch. Relentless.
Second half, Dawson Smith pounced on a loose ball and ran it in from our own 22.
17-0. The Knights fired back through Iwan Pyrs Jones with a superb long-range individual try, but young Lorcan Farrell - on debut - answered immediately, bouncing off tacklers from deep in our 22 all the way to the Knights' half.
The move finished with Heinrich du Plessis making a tackle, counter-rucking, and offloading off the deck to Quentin Querl who finished brilliantly. 24-7.
Knights pulled it back to 24-14, but we held on.
Second place in the group. Cup quarter-finals. Job done.
*Cup Quarter-Final vs Preseli Babas - 12-17*
The Babas finished 2nd in the entire 2025 Super Series. They're good. We found that out.
We started like a house on fire. Viliame Salusalu over inside 30 seconds.
Alistair Reed - stepping one, handing off another, sprinting clear - made it 12-0.
Bradley Bohmer won a crucial turnover. We looked in complete control.
Then the Babas reminded us why they're dangerous. Lloyd Wilkins - 2025 Player of the Series - produced a moment of genuine brilliance to pull it back to 12-5 at half time.
Second half was a battle. Kyle Bradbury - on debut, and ironically club teammates with several of the Babas at Glamorgan Wanderers - made a probing run that put us inside their 22. The Babas went to 6 men with a yellow card and we couldn't convert the advantage. Lloyd Wilkins then produced another individual masterclass, bumping off a defender and running it in from halfway. 12-12.
Under 2 minutes to go. Babas knock-on at kick-off. Wild Dogs scrum. We had it. George Williams and Shawn Ingle carrying hard.
Then the ball went to ground. Babas ball, 20 seconds left, deep in our half. Penalty. Lloyd Wilkins, scragged by George, somehow got an offload away. Babas scored. Full time.
Gutting doesn't cover it.
But here's the bigger picture.
This squad has an average age of 22. We have players who made their Wild Dogs debut today. We have a young group of hungry 18, 19, 20 year olds, Ali Reed pushing hard for a Scotland 7s call-up and some older heads coming back into the squad and a group that is visibly improving with every single game we play together.
We don't train. Our players come from all over the country. What you see on the pitch is raw talent, character, and a culture that keeps drawing people back.
Congratulations to George William who takes player of the tournament for the Dogs for a 2nd week running - Not sure that has happened before. Impressive.
The final 2 games were streamed on Youtube - NextGenLive - Here: https://www.youtube.com/live/UvuQMxJcPww?si=xRirhqqHHUUMu_Er&t=18450 Conquer: 05:07:30 & Babas: 06:46:50
As a club proud of our Southern African roots, it's also brilliant to see SA and Zimbabwe-born and heritage players continuing to come through — Jean, Lance, Brad, Heinrich, Quentin, Shawn and Kyle all flying the flag today. That thread runs deep in this club and long may it continue.
Leg 3 - Harpenden, 13th June. We'll be ready.
🐾
Huge thanks for the photos: Christopher Bateman
Squad:
🏆🇿🇦 Jean Pienaar - Dubai 7s winner with the Dogs. Ex-Saracens Academy. Leader
🔧🇿🇦 Lance Kruger - ex-Saracens Academy. Mr Engine.
🚀🇿🇦 Brad Bohmer - just turned 18. Scotland U18 Six Nations. Built different.
⚡🇬🇧 George Williams - Player of the Tournament, Leg 1 & 2. Enough said.
🏴🇬🇧 Ali Reed - knocking on the door of a Scotland 7s call-up.
👣🇿🇦Heinrich du Plessis - UAE 7s, fan favourite for a reason.
🏃🇬🇧 Charles Hilliard - ex-sprinter. IAAF World Juniors. You don't outrun him.
🇨🇦 Dawson Smith - Rugby Canada 7s ID programme. Nugget
🐾🇿🇼 Quentin Querl - once the young gun, now the vet. Still got the feet.
🇩🇪🇿🇦 Shawn Ingle - Maidenhead RFC & Germany XV. Mr Duracell
🎓🇬🇧 Lorcan Farrell - Durham Uni. Wild Dogs debut. Speed
🏉🇿🇦 Kyle Bradbury - Glamorgan Wanderers. Wild Dogs debut.
💪🇫🇯 Viliame Salusalu - Army Rugby. Magician
🐾🇬🇧 Marcus Hendry - Wild Dogs stalwart. Game changer
