YOUTH RUGBY: ST JOHN'S School, Marlborough, triumphed in an entertaining final of the Wiltshire Emerging Schools Under 12s tournament last Wednesday.

Ten teams of youngsters from across the county descended on Devizes Rugby Club's London Road ground for the annual competition.

Sheldon School and Hardenhuish School from Chippenham, Corsham School, Dorcan School, in Swindon, Matravers School in Westbury and Devizes School all entered.

But it was the Marlborough boys that made it through to the final where they met Wyvern School from Salisbury after they had topped their respective pools.

In the final showdown St Johns led 5-0 at half-time and although Wyvern ran in a try to level things up the Marlborough team went over twice more to triumph by a 15-5 score-line.

As a result of the victory St John's were due to face the winners of the Dorset Emerging Schools Under-12s tournament yesterday.

The winner of that clash will travel to the county finals in Staines and compete for a place in the overall final that will be played on the hallowed Twickenham turf.

Wiltshire rugby's Tim Unwin jointly organised the tournament, along with the help of Devizes RFC, and said he was impressed with the young boys' rugby skills.

"We had some 120 boys playing rugby on the afternoon which was superb," Unwin said.

"It was a good tournament with a close final and there was some good quality rugby on show."

The competition has been going for a number of years now and the aim idea is to get schools playing more rugby.

"There are a lot of schools that don't play a lot of rugby so we are trying to get them out on the pitch more regularly," Unwin continued.

"There were some quite good young players out there who don't necessarily play rugby that often so it was good for them to have the chance to play.

"Most of the schools involved were not established rugby-playing schools and the idea is to get rugby back in schools again."

He added: "It was a good afternoon and there were a sprinkling of parents, coaches and club officials on the sidelines to watch the action.

"I have to thank Devizes RFC for hosting the event and supplying refreshments."

He said he hoped St John's would go on to play at Twickenham along with the Wiltshire under-13 winners Sheldon.

Unwin added: "The aim is to get these boys playing club rugby eventually.

"It was a very positive day and next year we want to get more local schools involved."