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Barley Hill (Thame) turned on the style to record a double at the London Wasps/Highland Spring Tag Rugby Festival at Chinnor RFC.

With 12 teams representing seven schools, the festival acted as a culmination to a coaching scheme which the London Wasps community team have been delivering in schools in Thame, Wallingford and Watlington.

After initial qualification pools, teams were split into three separate tournaments with the top four playing in the main cup competition, second-placed teams in the bowl and third-placed sides in the plate.

In the cup semi-finals, Lewknor edged out John Hampden A (Thame) in extra time, while Barley Hill were too strong for Stadhampton in the second game.

Barley Hill then produced a fantastic display of skill and commitment in the final to beat Lewknor by three tries to one.

In the plate competition, Barley Hill B followed up their A team's success to make it a double.

And they just missed out on a clean sweep when Barley Hill C were defeated by John Hampden B (Thame) in the bowl.

The fair play award went to Mill Lane (Thame) for the great attitude they displayed all day.

Other schools represented were Chalgrove and Ewelme.

London Wasps community rugby coach Ben Smiley said: "The festival was a great way to bring to an end the work which we have been doing in the South Oxfordshire schools recently.

"The community team have been working with these schools for nearly four years and it is great to see many of the children we have coached now playing for clubs such as Chinnor, Wheatley and Wallingford RFCs."

Dave Ratcliffe, chairman of Chinnor's mini section, was delighted with the success of the Wasps initiative.

"To introduce so many kids from the region to competitive rugby is a tall order, but the London Wasps Community Team have done a fantastic job," he said.

"Chinnor RFC pride ourselves on our grassroots development of the game with over 250 kids from 5-12 years old turning out on a Sunday morning, we are always looking to grow our numbers."

5:14pm Friday 28th March 2008

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