The two teams involved were made up of Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 boys and girls, who have been training with Rob Barker, Dan Eveleigh and Neil Towers on Tuesday evenings.

The teams firstly played at Guilsborough School. The younger Clipston side were narrowly knocked out in the group stage of the competition despite some excellent teamwork and fine rugby.

However the more senior team won all their matches and earned a place in the final against hosts Guilsborough. After a nailbiting encounter they emerged victorious through excellent performances from all the children taking part. The girls in the team displayed skills on a par with the boys and scored as many tries.

As winners, the Clipston youngsters were invited to take part in the Daventry District finals.

They again performed well and won all their group games comfortably. The finals were another tense affair, particularly as Clipston drew their first game, but they won their second match by enough tries to secure the tournament.

It was another top team effort, although Sam Noble and Daniel Bugla were outstanding throughout and scored more tries than anyone else.

The finals team consisted of Katie James (captain), Hattie Akinci, Hollie Wright, Katie Bryant, Tom Stevens, Jonathan Dance, Daniel Bugla, James Clements, Sam Noble, Callum Barker.

By winning the Daventry competition Clipston were invited to represent the district at the Northamptonshire Youth Games, a countywide tournament staged this year in Kettering.

Clipston, facing Kettering to open, had a flying start with a quick try from Akinci down the wing, soon followed by a score from Ricky Barby, showing good support play.

Kettering came back and broke down the visitors’ defence and it was 2-2 with only a minute to go. A strong run from the hosts ended in a controversial try being awarded and Clipston went down 3-2.

The second game was against South Northants and was a much faster tie with plenty of tries at both ends of the pitch. Barby scored a hat-trick of tries while Wright got on the scoresheet after a strong run down the wing, and Bugla showed superb support running to make it five tries in total. However South Northants managed to score six, leaving Clipston pipped at the post again.

Coach Neil Towers gave the village-based team a few words of encouragement, which certainly did the trick.

Next up was the first of the two teams from Northampton, Barby, Wright, Katie Bryant and Barker all scored to earn a resounding 4-1 win.

Corby proved tough opponents but they were eventually beaten 4-3, thanks to tries from Wright, Barby, Barker and Akinci, who spectacularly claimed a last-gasp winner.

Clipston were going from strength to strength as they faced the second of the Northampton teams.