The annual event attracted teams from all over the North East as rugby youngsters pitted their skills against one-another.

Alnwick Rugby Club demonstrated their flourishing junior membership by fielding four teams within the U8 to U11 age-groups.

And up against teams from Carlisle, Percy Park, Tynedale and Newcastle, Alnwick's young guns showed that the future is bright at Greensfield. Both the U8s and U9s reached the semi-finals while superb performances from the U10s and U11s saw them win their respective tournaments.

U11s Victorious in Gosforth Festival

ALNWICK RFC U11s travelled down to the windswept pitches of Bullock Steads behind Kingston Park to take on teams from as far afield as Carlisle in the Gosforth RFC tournament.

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Alnwick U10s victorious at Gosforth Festival

The first match was against the home side Gosforth, who, despite being well-drilled and competing strongly went down three tries and one conversion to nil (Callum Burn, 1 try; William Nelson 1 try; Mathew Ginger 1 try; Joe Cowen, 1 conversion).

The second match was against Percy Park whose forwards have always been a handful in scale and shear effort, combining well with a skilled back line but they too came second in a tight match, with Alnwick victorious by the only try in the game from Scott Harvey.

The third game was against Tynedale – yet another side with a formidable pack and skilled back line. However, they too failed to quell the roar of the Alnwick lions, going down to two tries and one conversion to nil (Scott Harvey, 1 try; Joe Nicholson, 1 try; Joe Cowen, 1 conversion).

The semi-final play-off was against Ponteland, with their giant prop and talented player Chick who have proven to be a handful in the past.

However, the Alnwick forwards stepped up to the mark and contained the normally marauding Ponteland forwards. Then came the shear pace and virtually unstoppable run from Joe Cowan, taking the ball from half-way through at least four defending players to the try-line then stepping up to convert to put Alnwick in the final.

The final was against Alnwick's nemesis Northern A, the most consistent, determined, well-drilled side year-on-year that Alnwick have played. Their players not only train at the club but play U11 full contact at school, giving them an experience advantage over Alnwick. But every Alnwick player showed tremendous tenacity in the loose play, commitment in the tackle, mauling power, sheer gutsy effort in defence and determination – it was superb to see. The final was won by an interception try from the human exocet missile Joe Cowen and his subsequent conversion.