Despite having only a few days to prepare, our friends from Richmond Warriors pulled out all the stops to organise a great feast of 9's rugby at their home at Twickenham.

The Dragons took a squad of 20 with the objectives of sweeping away the cobwebs after the closed season, getting everyone a reasonable amount of game time and to have fun. Typically for this group of players they took this all in their stride and ran out winners of the completion beating Elmbridge Eagles in the final.

In the first of the group games we saw off new club North Herts Crusaders with a solitary try from Mitchell Stone. Next up Hemel Stags were dispatched 16-10 with tries from Adam Daddy and Stanley Orris along with two conversions from Connor O'Grady.

Dragons were now settling into their stride and next was a 14-0 victory over London Skolars thanks to tries from Connor Naylor (2) and Mitchell Stone followed by a conversion from Alfie Orris.

Our last group game saw the only defeat of the day against Staines Titans, 4-6 with a try for Roshane Johnson not being quite enough to retain our unbeaten record but this did not stop us finishing as top of the group and a semi-final clash against old foes Brentwood Eels.

Typical of all past encounters between these two sides there were tough tackles and hard running throughout before Dragons stepped up the pace and ran out winners by 16-0 with tries from Mitchell Stone, Roshane Johnson and Adam Dady with a conversion apiece from Alfie Orris and Connor O'Grady leading Dragons into the final against Elmbridge Eagles.

Again this was a physical battle with neither side wanting to concede any ground. However a spark of brilliance from Mitchell Stone with a long kick over the Elmbridge defence enabled Roshane Johnson to collect and run in the first try, converted by Connor O'Grady.

Shortly after O'Grady went one better with a superb individual effort running through the Elmbridge defence from inside the Dragons own half to sprint over for a second try which he then converted. That was enough and in the end Dragons ran out comfortable winners to win the tournament.

Great credit to all involved especially the boys who yet again showed class and composure to aspire to the heady targets they have set themselves and also to the staff at Richmond who gave us a thrilling days rugby and a great day out