JUNIOR RUGBY.

More than 1,000 children from across the country invaded the London Irish Club in Sunbury, among them three representative teams from the Lensbury RFC (soon to become Teddington), and under 9s A side and both A and B under 8s teams.

The boys playing their final matches under the Lensbury banner, covered themselves in mud and glory, leaving with a haul of no less than three silver trophies, one for each of their teams.

The under 9s team won the A team shield beating Blackheath four tries to one in the final, while the under 8s A team enjoyed winning their way through to become victors in the Plate competition. Their B team colleagues though, swept all opposition before them to win the B Cup after an exciting, if nail-biting, final match once again over Blackheath.

The tournament had started at 9.30am so by the final, at around 6pm, the seven year-olds were justifiably tired, but every one of them played their heart out.

As chairman Tony Swan commented, "This was the demise of Lensbury Minis, as we are moving our home to Bushy Park next season, to become part of the newly-named Teddington RFC, the club formerly known as Antlers. All the kids are looking forward to playing in the new venue, but they were determined to finish their life as Lensbury Minis on a high note."

The game - only touch rugby at this age - was played at a frantic pace and after the seven-minute first half Lensbury were one try up. By full time however, the score stood level at four tries each, taking them into sudden death overtime.

Blackheath threatened several times to score, but were held at bay. Eventually, Blackheath put in a long pass to their winger, which was expertly intercepted in the air by young Jonathan Booth. With head up and shoulders back, he flew the length of the field, urged on excitedly by a large group of Lensbury supporters to score the winning try."

It was real Roy Of The Rovers stuff as Jonathan was carried of the pitch on the shoulders of his seven year-old team-mates to receive the B cup to loud applause in the London Irish grandstand.

Further information about mini rugby at Teddington RFC, which will begin with a mini coaching and fun day in Bushy Park on September 1, can be obtained from Tony Swan on 0181 943 3675.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.