Hundreds of schoolgirls have a ball at Fengate

Peterborough Rugby Club gave 200 local schoolgirls the chance to play rugby when they staged a touch rugby festival at their Fengate home.

A total of 17 teams from 10 different schools took part, playing in four age groups, with the vast majority of the players getting their first taste of the sport.

Premiership stars Ellen Ramsbottom and Grace

White, both former England under-20 internationals from Loughborough Lightning were on hand to meet the play,ers and present the trophies.

“Peterborough Rugby Club is part of the community, we’re not an isolated bubble,” said Girls Academy Head Coach Ian Smith.

“And if we can introduce our fantastic sport to dozens, even hundreds, of girls who’ve never had the chance to play before, then all of the hard work is worthwhile,”

“We’re really impressed that so many schools who don’t normally embrace girls’ rugby, or even rugby at all, took up the challenge to be a part of this and are really delighted that Northampton Saints’ community coaches went into several of the schools to help them prepare for it.”

King’s School won both the under-18 and under-16 categories, Bourne Grammar School came first in the under-14 section and the under-12 group was won by Abbey College of Ramsey.

The intention now is to make the event an annual one.

Peterborough Rugby Club’s under-15s reached the final of the Cambridgeshire Cup by making it four wins out of four in the competition with a 25-7 win away at Newmarket.

Oliver Kirkman kicked two penalties and two conversions, while there was a try apiece for Lewis Feeke, Jack Wheatley and Ollie Moult.

Ashton Fletcher, meanwhile, had the only try as the under-14s were beaten 42-5 away at Shelford in their Cambridgeshire Cup fixture.