MERSEA Island Rugby Club staged the inaugural All Schools Island Sevens Festival, at The Glebe.

The two-day event featured eight schools, representing 20 teams, and was sponsored by the English RFU as part of their £12 million CBRE All Schools Programme.

In total, more than 300 junior players showed off their skills from Years Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten and, between them, they produced some terrific sevens rugby.

England RFU development officer Tim Reed attended on both days, as did Town Clerk Petra Palfreyman and some of her colleagues from West Mersea Town Council.

Mayor Carl Powling was also able to come along, while an extra special atmosphere was generated by 80 or so Year Five Mersea Island Primary School children who attended on day one, thanks to the support of Head Teacher, Nicky Syrett.

On the pitch, the quality of play, levels of effort and commitment and standards of behaviour were outstanding and brought great credit to the respective schools and PE teachers.

Fair play points were awarded throughout the two days and in true rugby tradition, at the end of each match, both teams shook hands, lined up, faced each other and delivered a rousing three cheers.

RESULTS: Year Seven: Winners: Tendring Technology College, Runners-up: Thomas Lord Audley School.

Year Eight: Winners: Colchester High School; Runners-up: Colne Community School.

Year Nine: Winners: Tendring Technology College; Runners-up: Thurstable.

Year Ten: Winners: Tendring Technology College; :Runners-up: Colchester High School.

Each team received an engraved trophy and every player went home with a goodie bag comprising a festival T-shirt, a sports water bottle and a range of England Rugby merchandise.

Organisers thanked sponsors Visionscape, RTG Rail Services and Brennan Group, the St John Ambulance teams who attended on both days, Paul Button and his team from Essex Outdoors for the loan of their marquee and Ross Cowie, from Eastern Counties Rugby, who helped gather together junior referees and also made the trophy presentations on day one.

* For a double-page picture special from the event, see Tuesday's Gazette.