A VERY successful Redditch schools tag rugby tournament was held at Redditch Rugby Club last Friday for mixed teams of boys and girls in years five and six from the local middle and primary schools.
The event was a qualifying competition for the Sainsbury’s 2015 Summer School Games to be held in June at Bromsgrove School and saw eight teams play against each other to find the eventual winner.
The afternoon was supported by students from Heart of Worcestershire College who refereed the games, ran the lines and kept the scores.
Coaches, players, committee members and the chairman of Redditch Rugby Club were also in support, helping the players and referees to improve their skills.
The afternoon was organised as part of a regular programme of sports offered to schools as part of the School Games and saw St Bede’s and Church Hill middle schools battle it out in the final after winning all of their games in the rounds.
St Bede’s were the eventual winners and will go on to represent Redditch at the School Games finals.
In winning their group by beating Meadow Green, Birchensale and Ridgeway – all by more than four tries – the semi-finals pitted them against Walkwood, who were met by attacking running, superb tagging and accurate passing as St Bede’s ran out 7-1 victors to set up a final against also unbeaten Church Hill.
In a much closer contest the game was evenly poised until George Skelton, Regan Salisbury and Matthew Barratt scored three tries in quick succession to seal a 5-1 victory for St Bede’s.
Credit should go to the entire squad who all contributed to the victory. The full squad was Alice Seabourne, Hannah Lownsborough, Ellie Pardy, Regan Salisbury, Matthew Barratt, Cian Hodson, George Skelton, Sam Knebel and Brandon Catton.
St Bede’s assistant headteacher Matt Russell said: “The boys have been performing at a very high standard in lessons so their performance was no surprise, but in this mixed tournament the contribution of the girls is vital and our girls tagged and ran so well, ensuring we had no weak links whatsoever.”
In addition to the finalists, other Redditch schools taking part were Birchensale (who entered two teams), Ridgeway, Walkwood and Woodfield middle schools, plus Meadow Green Primary School of Wythall.
Redditch’s School Games organiser thanked Redditch Rugby Club for the use of their facilities and the support they gave to make help make it an enjoyable afternoon.
The pupils all improved their tag rugby skills during the afternoon.
