GREAT Malvern Primary School retained their status as the district's tag-rugby champions in a keenly fought Malvern Hills District Primary Schools Tag-Rugby Festival held at Malvern Rugby Club on Tuesday.

The festival attracted 17 teams from primary schools from right across the Malvern Hills district and as the drizzly start gave way to glorious summer sunshine, the standard of rugby became more competitive with many players showing great skill and determination to help their school teams through the qualifying round.

But for Malvern Link CE Primary School, who are the 2002 Malvern Mini League champions, the qualifying rounds were a nightmare. Unlike their close rivals from Great Malvern who slipped undefeated into the play-off for the cup, Malvern Link crashed to a series of defeats leaving both their teams bottom of their qualifying groups to complete in the Bowl competition with Hanley Swan 'Hares'.

But even then it wasn't the Link's day, as they were forced to share the Bowl after an exciting final with the 'Hares' produced a 7-7 draw after extra-time.

A second Hanley Swan team, the 'Hawks' qualified for the shield competition along with Pendock, Grimley & Holt, Callow End and Kempsey. In a round-robin contest, the 'Hawks' found the going very competitive, with Kempsey and Callow End moving into top gear in an exciting decider.

The crucial factor in this match was Kempsey's stout defence that served them so well in the early stage of the qualifying group. It again held firm against spirited Callow End attacks to give Kempsey the win they needed to finish as Shield winners.

In the Plate competition, all the teams that finished runners-up in the qualifying round Abberley, Northleigh, Powick, Tenbury and The Grove, fought it out for the honours.

The quality of rugby was intense with all the teams showing great passion to claim the prize. Tenbury and Abberley started brightly but neither side could capitalise on their early wins and both teams finished at the foot of the group with six points each. The Grove gamely put in a great performance and although they finished with nine points, the same as Northleigh, the difference of one try pushed them into third place. Nevertheless, it was Powick who claimed the Plate after finishing in top spot with 10 points.

Malvern Wells, who were this years "new boys on the block", made it through the Cup competition along with Hanley Swan, Suckley, reigning champions Great Malvern and Broadheath, who were tag-rugby runners-up at the Worcestershire Youth Games at the end of last month.

The Wells put up a spirited fight, but found the going difficult and ended their campaign with six points in fourth place. Above them, the Year Five dynamos from Hanley Swan continued to surprise everyone and they thoroughly deserved their third place spot, ending the day with seven well earned points.

But it was teams who were made up with their talented Year Six students who were to have their way and what a finish to the festival they provided. Suckley CE Primary School, who only have a total of 43 pupils on the school roll, finished level pegging as runners-up with Broadheath as both teams ended their campaigns on eight points and an identical try count.

Nevertheless, it was to be Great Malvern who reclaimed the Malvern Hills District Primary Schools Tag-Rugby championship crown and the Festival Cup with an impressive undefeated run throughout, finishing on top with 11 points despite a scare against the Year Five's from Hanley Swan that ended in a low scoring draw.

The Rugby Football Union provided Tag-Rugby kits as extra prizes and these were awarded to Great Malvern, Powick and Kempsey schools.

In addition, the RFU invited Great Malvern and Suckley to take part in the West Midlands Ford Tag-Rugby Extravaganza at Droitwich Rugby Club on July 3 along with a district 'invitation' side that will be made-up of talented rugby players from some of the primary schools that have taken part in this year's Malvern Hills Primary Schools Tag-Rugby Mini Leagues and Festival.