SPRINGHILL and Springwater came out on top at the annual SportsSpecial School Sports Partnership Tag Rugby Festival at Heworth ARLC.

A total of 74 young people with disabilities took part, with York City Knights community development officer Jack Stearman and his team of coaches putting the players through their paces before the competition.

Nine teams competed in two sections - one for young people with learning disabilities, the other for those with severe learning disabilities.

In the MLD section, five teams battled it out - Woodlands of Scarborough, Springhill of Harrogate, Mowbray of Bedale, Applefields of York and Welburn Hall of Kirkbymoorside.

After some close play, 12-try Springhill came out as champions with Mowbray taking the runners-up position.

The SLD section included Springwater, Mowbray and The Dales of Morton-on-Swale.

Springwater ran in four tries to take first place, with Mowbray and The Dales sharing second place.

All the players were presented with certificates, water bottles by York City Knights and free bottled water and fruit donated by Asda Monk Cross. The winning teams also collected medals.

Val French, special schools school games and tournament organiser, said: “We would like to say a massive thank you to Heworth for allowing us to use their lovely facility, to York City Knights and their team of coaches and referees, who did a fantastic job, and to Asda Monks Cross for their kind sponsorship with water and fruit.

“This was a real show of what can be achieved by working in partnership to give these young people more sporting opportunities, to meet new people and to play at good sports venues.”

ANY companies interested in supporting young people with disabilities by sponsoring competitions and festivals should email French at val.french@mowbray.n-yorks.sch.uk