SUNDAY saw the return of the Clyde Coast Cup – a fantastic rugby tournament for players in primary 4-7, held on the Weir 3G indoor pitch at the Inverclyde Centre, Largs.
Hosts Ardrossan Accies were joined by Ayrshire’s Garnock and Kilmarnock RFC and local friends Bishopton, Greenock and Glasgow’s Allan Glen's for a festival of rugby and sportsmanship.
Aside from engaging in high-tempo matches, the young players got to grips with the Calcutta Cup, which was brought along especially by the Scottish Rugby Union. The showpiece trophy awarded to the winner of the Scotland v England match of the Six Nations each year hadn’t been on Scottish soil for 10 years, so the kids were delighted to see it.
The rugby played was also worthy of some grand silverware. Garnock RFC won the The P4/5 age group event after a clean sweep of victories against their rivals.
There were some mesmeric performances, with the award for overall star player of the P4/5 tournament shared between Ardrossan's Ethan Sweenie and Kilmarnock’s Dylan Young.
The P6/7 event followed and saw a rise in intensity, strength and skill. With four matches apiece, the teams battled for the Clyde Coast Cup. Kilmarnock and Garnock played outstanding rugby and locked in a draw for second place. However, Ardrossan Accies with three wins and a draw were tournament winners and lifted the cup.
The award for overall star player of P6/7 was again shared by two boys drawing equal numbers of votes from the coaching staff: Kilmarnock’s Hamish Grant and Ardrossan’s Devlin Frew.
It was a brilliant day’s sport and entertainment, but the icing on the cake came from the six clubs combining to produce a raffle and home baking sale in aid of a local children’s cancer charity linked to one of the teams.
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