HARROGATE TROPHY WINNERS

Thanks to all those involved to make our hosting of the NYRFU U8 World Cup a huge success for all 20 teams and 200+ players, as well as the huge numbers of supporters from Harrogate, Selby, Ripon, Wetherby, York, Richmond, Wensleydale and Wharfedale.
A 7:30am start from Jason, Danny and I still had our plans well behind schedule when the first players turned up at 8:30am for 10:00am start!! Further help from all our fantastic parents soon had the cars parked and the pitches marked out and even a scorers tent until the wind had other ideas. Pitch and team managers showing good team work skills to the kids soon had the correct players and refs in place and the event was underway. 'Volunteers' from the 1st XV helped referee although I think they were taken aback by the pace and skills on show by all teams and took some time getting used to the different rules and the advice/encouragement from the sideline,
Everything proceeded smoothly and the tropical weather held off, to allow the kids to play a high standard of rugby throughout, with tries and tags a plenty.
To enable us to finish all pools at the same time and to give longer matches, we dispensed with the knockout stages and instead awarded winners to each of the four pools. This resulted in Harrogate winning Pool 2, Wetherby Pool 4 and Selby winning Pools 1 and 3.

The overall winner (other than rugby!) was Selby whose three teams amassed a total of 30 points = an average of 10 points per team.
Harrogate came 3rd overall with an average of 9 points.

Being an RFU event we did not feel we should charge for team entry or access to the ground.
However, 'donations' were encouraged and the raffle and food raised over £1,000 for the new ground.

Thank you to all our helpers on the day and all the visiting clubs for your support, but most of all to all the smiles on the players faces which definitely made the effort worthwhile!

Supporters and new players please come to our next home game at Claro Road against Richmond or for training the following sunday at 10:00am.