SCHOOLCHILDREN from around the area took part in a rugby tournament.

The Bracknell Forest Festival of Tag Rugby was somehow played without any rain, and the pitches at Great Hollands Recreation Ground held up well under the stress of 28 primary schools.

Whitegrove school came out as worthy winners after seeing off Uplands in the final  by nine tries to seven. The teams were divided into four groups, with group winners and runners up progressing through to the knockout phase. 

In group A, Warfield topped the table after winning all but one of their matches, while Meadow Vale came runners up with a record of four wins two defeats.

Wooden Hill and St Margaret Clitherow both bowed out after the group stage despite playing some good rugby. 

Group B was also close, with St Michael’s in Sandhurst winning five and drawing one to lead the group ahead of Ascot Heath and New Scotland Hill who tied on 13 points, but the latter won the head to head to progress. 

Eventual winners Whitegrove won all their matches in group C and led the group away from Cranbourne, who only lost to the leaders. 

Runners-up Uplands only conceded one point on their way through the group, as Binfield beat Crowthorne to progress through to the quarter-finals by a whisker. 

In the quarter-finals, Whitegrove edged past Binfield in extra-time, while Warfield beat New Scotland Hill 3-2, Uplands bested Cranbourne 6-4 and Meadow Vale outscored St Michael’s 4-2. 

Whitegrove progressed through to the final by beating Warfield 6-4 in a close game, and Uplands and Meadow Vale competed a thriller, with Uplands winning 5-4. 

The final shaped up to be a cracker, with both sets of players showing signs of fatigue after a long day’s rugby. 

With nothing separating either side throughout the match, Whitegrove just edged it 9-7, earning them the title.