This Is Guernsey

By Rob Batiste

FOOTE’S LANE has too often been criticised for sanitising the atmosphere at top local football games. But there was no shortage of it at the island’s number one multi-purpose outdoor facility on Saturday as 400 youngsters from all the island’s primary schools, egged on by hundreds of parents, enjoyed an exhilaratingly long morning’s tag rugby.

Vale Vixens, Forest Tigers and Beechwood Grubbers went away with the main age-group trophies, but the well worn adage, ‘the game was the winner’, was, in this case, as accurate as a Jonny Wilkinson penalty from under the posts.

Teachers queued up to praise and thank the organisers, the Guernsey Rugby Academy.

Nick Falla, head teacher at the Vale, was unequivocal.

‘It’s a terrific competition in general . . . so many kids involved and no fear of getting hurt,’ he said.

Steve Hutchinson from St Martin’s was equally enthusiastic.

‘My children love it. It’s one of the highlights of the year for me,’ said a man who encourages his children to compete in a wide variety of sporting events staged for the island under-11s.

The St Martin’s teacher has no problems finding teams for the annual event.

‘We’ve got a lot to choose from today. Anyone who came to trials I put in a team and, with over 60 players, I’ve been able to field seven teams.’

Hutchinson’s ethos is simple. ‘I hope to get them inspired to do competitive sport.’

All of which left tournament director Richard Forsey with a feeling of well earned satisfaction.

‘This year numbers have doubled,’ said Forsey.

‘It’s possibly to do with the World Cup, but also the fact that I’ve bombarded the schools and made them aware that it’s on the calendar.’

Geoff Renouf, director of the Guernsey Rugby Academy, also wore a face of satisfaction and of a job well done.

‘It’s fantastic. It provides such a learning curve for the kids. They learn various skills like catching and throwing the ball and it’s non-contact.’

Each of the 36 teams were split into qualifying pools, playing seven-a-side matches, each lasting seven minutes.

One girl per team must be on the pitch at all times and with that basic rule in mind, teams generally fielded two girls in a squad of up to 10.

And if there was a better try than the one Katie Lewis scored for Vale Vikings, it will have been an exceptional one.

The Year 5 pupil showed a terrific turn of pace as she weaved her way to the line against Castel.