The Liontrust London Youth & Junior League kicked off last weekend with the season opening 9 a-side festivals across the region.

While the Greenwich Admirals are only running an adults team in 2013, new club Charlton Gunners have netered teams into the league at U/12s and U/16s and both look like they have plenty to offer to the competition.

Barking and Dagenham Bulldogs were joined by Newham Dockers at the U/19s event in Medway, while the later also entered teams at U/14s and U/16s.

East London Rugby League Project Manager Steve Davis is very pleased with the additional teams. “We have had some steady growth and some successful delivery in local schools which has seen interest rise.

“A new team at U/16s for the Dockers was a target but the U/19s is a great addition that we certainly were not banking on.

“Then out of nowhere, Charlton Gunners were formed and now they have two very strong teams who will both compete for titles.

“It is very pleasing to see the game grow in the east of London”.

The regular league season runs until July upon which point the top ranked teams battle it out to be crowned champions.

The sports charity have teamed up with the Hard Rock Cafe East London Rugby League Project to deliver activity in the borough of Greenwich.

Charlton FC have history of a relationship with London Rugby League, with London Broncos calling “The Valley” their home for two years between 1996 and 1998.

The delivery will take place at the Samuel Montagu Youth Centre in Kidbrooke under the Urban Rugby model for 12 – 16 year olds.

“It is a no brainer really”, manager Steve Davis commented on forming the relationship.

“Charlton Athletic Communtiy Trust are one of the largest sporting charities in London and certainly in the borough of Greenwich.

“To partner with such an organisation who have record of delivering great multi-sports opportunities to local residents is a great step forward in achieving our project objectives, particularly around the Urban Rugby programme”.

Coaches on the books at Charlton have already undertaken training to deliver the Urban Rugby programme which will culminate in a local festival between participants at multiple venues.

Sessions start in February and take place on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s starting at 5pm and are totally free for any participant to join.

For more information on Urban Rugby in Greenwich, contact Sean Daly via sean.daly@cact.org.uk or download the attached document below.

Urban Rugby In Kidbrooke

The winner of the Yr 7, 8 and 10 east London Champion Schools sub regional competitions all bowed out of the national competition today.

All Saints were winners of all three age groups mentioned this year becoming the strongest performing secondary school in east London, yet all three came out of their London and South East regional quarter finals on the wrong side of the scorers sheet.

In a three way event in Dagenham, their opponents at all three age groups were Colchester Grammar School who made the easy trip down the A12.

The Yr 7s came closest to victory of all three age groups when taking to the field in the first KO of the day. Both teams traded scores and at half time the Essex boys had a slender 8-6 lead.

In the second half home side dominated most of possession and territory but could only manage the one try with a missed conversion right in front.

With a 10 – 8 lead, All Saints simply couldn’t convert from close range and while looked almost unstoppable in gaining large territory when the defense had to retire 10 metres, were unable to use the ball effectively when they would play the ball close to the try line.

The missed conversion would prove costly as a late try to Colchester gave them what would turn out to be a decisive 2 point lead that they would hold until the final whistle.

In the Yr 10 game, Colchester seemed regularly in control of the game although the east Londoners always kept themselves within striking distance with converted trys.

With five minutes left, All Saints managed to score two quick trys and were all of a sudden within six points.

That would be as close as they would get however with Colchester reaffirming their dominance and scored two more themselves to win by 18.

In the final match, the Yr 8s were up against a team who last year progressed all the way to the quarter finals of the national round only narrowly losing to the eventual champions.

Unfortunately they proved no match for the talented outfit with the away team scoring a convincing 32 – 4 victory.