Jerry Hicks' Folly Wine Bar One beat a talented team from the Spotted Cow (aka Havant RFC) 22-16 in an amazing game which saw the lead change three times and bring the trophy back to a Petersfield-based team for the first time in six years.

Nearly 1,000 people, players and supporters, families and friends and most importantly, many Petersfield townsfolk had come down to Penns Place to what must be the biggest picnic in East Hampshire each year.

But then as one successful restaurateur remarked, the Pub Sevens is really now the only serious town-based event that Petersfield has, now that the old carnival has gone.

This most good humoured of festival rugby had a sad tinge to it.

Before play commenced at 11.30am, the entire ground stood for a minute's silence to remember former Petersfield Colt, Peter Cox, who tragically died the previous week while away at university.

Over 400 people watched the finals and even a sullen, rainy final hour could not dampen spirits.

The Folly had knocked out reigning champions Foggys One (based on Portsmouth RFC) in the semi final to ensure a new name on the trophy. The Cow had beaten the George One to set up the thrilling final.

The crowd had already been entertained by the plate final which had seen the rank outsiders The Running Horse from Alresford beat the much-fancied Brushmakers Arms, containing Petersfield stalwarts George Rees, Neil Arnold and Charlie Mason.

The Alresford-based team have been coached by Petersfield's own Carl Forbes and wearing their pink shirts not only won the fashion prize, but captured the third level trophy by the narrowest of margins, 21-20.

The Running Horse team knocked out Coxy's Windmill on their way to the final, a team entered to remember Pete Cox by all his former team-mates at Petersfield – a fine tribute indeed.

The Bowl was a tough level two battle between Foggys Two and the Square Brewery.

Perhaps the surviving Foggys VII realised they were carrying the honour of the long-standing and popular champions by taking the game very firmly to The Square.

They had to fight every inch of the way but it was quite proper that a pub that has contributed so much to this tournament over the years should have some just reward.

The tug-of-war tournament was somewhat truncated, but the Square Brewery got some of their own back by beating the 'Pub-with-No-Name' to retain the trophy.

The thrilling final game, which went right down to the wire, finished a wonderful afternoon's sport.