NORTH Yorkshire schools shone at Terrington Hall’s annual under-11s sevens rugby union tournament - not least the hosts.

The Cup was jointly awarded to the hosts and Mowden Hall after they could not be separated, while Pocklington claimed the Plate and Cundall Manor the Bowl. The main cup competition proved the tightest contest of the afternoon, with Birkdale, Mowden Hall and Terrington emerging as contenders after the group stage.

The hosts secured their place by defeating St Olave’s 40-0, Sedbergh Junior 38-7 and Bow Durham 24-0.

Birkdale went through by defeating Aysgarth 24-7 and St Martin’s Ampleforth 38-0 and drawing 14-14 with Durham Choristers, while Mowden Hall saw off Pocklington 20-7, Moorlands 28-7 and Cundall Manor 21-0.

In the first play-off match, Mowden Hall beat Birkdale 28-0 while the second saw Terrington and Mowden locked in a 14-14 draw.

Amazingly, Terrington also saw off Birkdale 28-0 in the deciding last match, leaving the two victors tied on points, points difference and points score.

Terrington’s U11s coach Nick Witteveen said: “At 28-0, the last move of the game saw Adam Reid race for the line from a long way out, but he was hauled down just short - utter agony.

“However, I was incredibly proud of the boys’ performance which left them unbeaten at the end of the afternoon.”

Headmaster Stephen Mulryne said: “Both Mowden Hall and Terrington Hall played exhilarating yet well-disciplined sevens rugby.”

Terrington Hall’s annual U13s rugby sevens tournament - the largest of its kind in the north of England - was taking place today (Wednesday) with 28 schools competing, including Ryedale School, Malton School, St Martin’s Ampleforth and Lady Lumley’s, Pickering.

Meanwhile, Ryedale School had a superb debut in Terrington Hall’s annual cross country meet.

In total, 260 competitors from 11 schools took part in U13 and U11 boys and girls’ events, and an U9 mixed event.

The three-mile course took the runners through the village of Terrington into the Howardian Hills via forest track, embankment and ploughed fields to the finishing line on the school’s pitches.

Ryedale, who entered the competition for the first time, took the top four places in the boys’ U13 race and carried off the team trophy, with the individual medals going to Toby Antcliff, Finnian Hutchinson and Herbert Antcliff (Ryedale).

Results:

U9 Mixed: 1 W Harrison-Tupham (Aysgarth), 2 R Pearle (Aysgarth), 3 J Barker (Sedbergh). Team trophy: Moorlands.

U11 Boys: 1 H Lee (Pocklington), 2 F Wharton (Cundall Manor), 3 T Stocks (Pocklington). Team trophy: Aysgarth.

U11 Girls: 1 E Harrison (Sedbergh), 2 R Pettifer (Cundall Manor), 3 E Forsyth (Pocklington). Team trophy: Pocklington.

U13 Boys: 1 T Antcliff (Ryedale), 2 F Hutchinson (Ryedale), 3 H Antcliff (Ryedale). Team trophy: Ryedale.

U13 Girls: 1 M Barrett (Sedbergh), 2 P Brown (Queen Mary’s), 3 I Haydon-Wood (Sedbergh). Team trophy: Pocklington.