HOME team Terrington Hall reclaimed the annual Terrington Hall Under-13s 15-a-side rugby union trophy after victory in the deciding match – with Fijian scholar Filimoni Savou the hat-trick hero in the final.

An afternoon of competitive rugby featured four other schools – Lady Lumley’s School (Pickering), Malton School, Ryedale School and trophy holders Easingwold School.

It ended with Terrington and Easingwold meeting in the last match of a round robin series, each having beaten the other three teams but with Easingwold going into the decider with more points on the board.

Within the first two minutes, Savou’s speed and agility outwitted the Easingwold defence to score the first try, a feat he achieved twice more during the match.

Terrington captain Matthew Wilson, himself having scored five tries during the afternoon, converted two of Savou’s tries, bringing the final score to 19-0.

Ryedale School’s Year 8 team beat Lady Lumley’s 7-0 and Malton 22-0 but lost 15-5 to Easingwold and 12-0 to Terrington 12-0, to finish third overall.

Terrington Hall headteacher Jon Glen said: “Now in its third year, this tournament previews the best of local talent and I’m delighted it has become an annual event.”

Savou took his place in the Terrington Hall line-up after becoming the first Fijian to land a scholarship to a British school.

The 12-year-old is spending a year at Terrington after being hand-picked following a request from the London Fiji High Commissioner, Pio Bosco Tikoisuva, to the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) to nominate a candidate.

Savou is the son of former Fiji sevens coach, and player, Josateki Savou.

The teenager has also shown ability on the track – having won gold in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m for Veiuto Primary School at the recent Zone 2 FMF Chow Games.

Contact was made with Tikoisuva through Terrington parent, Charlie Charters, a former rugby union official and sports marketing executive who had worked with Tikoisuva at the FRU.

As an undergraduate in the 1970s, Tikoisuva played for Harlequins, and was subsequently captain of the Fiji team that beat the British & Irish Lions in 1977.

Young Savou, whose departure for England attracted front-page news and primetime TV coverage in Fiji, arrived at Terrington Hall last Tuesday in the London Fiji High Commisioner’s car.

Glen said: “I hope he is the first of many Fijians to have the opportunity to study at Terrington.”