Rossendale Festival

Players: Both Patricks, Nathan, Daniel, Kian, Harry, Ross, Brandan, Harris, James, Chris, George

Weather: Autumnal

Pitch: Good but no wheelchair access

In preparation for major tournaments, the big teams prepare in different ways. Altitude training, army assault courses, golfing. Not many prepare with a trip to Widnes. Yet this is exactly the "outside the box" thinking that has taken Coach Butler to the very top of the game - in under 10s rugby in the Wigan area.

A strong, powerful and very big Widnes outfit had provided an excellent run out for the boys in the previous week. The fact that the boys had to cope with the sheer physicality they faced proved an excellent learning experience. All of the boys showed courage and heart but none more so than Isabella who "got stuck in" and revelled in the contest. Isabella's crowning moment came with a try that involved running over a would be tackler. Stirring stuff. Honourable mentions should also go to Harris, Nathan and Patrick who all put in excellent tackling performances and were dangerous with the ball in hand. The game was lost 8-4 but the promise was there for greater things to come.

So, on to the Rossendale Tournament. Up there with Wimbledon and Henley in the sporting calendar, the boys arrived for registration looking forward to defending their title which was famously won a year ago. Once the paper work had been filled in in triplicate, battle commenced.

This was a chance for the boys to feast at the top table of Under 10s rugby. It was like a who's who of the under 10 world. Warrington, Lymm, Littleborough, Rossendale. All the famous names were there. Wigan had been drawn in "the group of death" or "the Cheshire triangle" - granted, Rossendale isn't in Cheshire but there aren't any two sided shapes.

Game 1 - Rossendale. - The old foes. A team we have struggled against before. Not today though. Ferocious tackling, excellent recycling of the ball and good old fashioned Wigan heart saw them beaten 6-2. Harris was outstanding with three tries, Nathan bagged a couple with Patrick Horcan notching as well. Daniel was excellent in defence.

Game 2 - Lymm - A well drilled team. Good strong runners and tacklers. A tougher opposition as we conceded needless tries from restarts and lost 5-3. Strong points came in the shape of Kian, who started to pound the opposition as a warm up for later.

Game 3 - Warrington - Some very strong (and tall) runners, tight in defence. Another tough game following a long wait (fortunately the boys found some nearby woods in which to bond using the only method they know how - by knocking hell out of one another with massive sticks). The game was lost 4-1 but Kian shone again as did Ross.

At this point (about 2o'clock) the crowd could have been forgiven for thinking that a record of : Played 3 Won 1 was not enough to progress any further. Hand shakes all round and head off home. But oh no. This is the beauty of the format. Through mathematical formulae that only few could can dream to fathom, we found ourselves in the semi-final. The buzz of excitement was palpable. Lunch plans were scrapped as the boys watched the other semi-final (well, the parents watched whilst the boys threw mud at one another) between Sale and Lymm. Sale looked good. Too good. They had, what looked like a 27 year old playing in the centres. He was slightly smaller than Sam Burgess. Sale triumphed. They were in the final. Then, as if by magic, and without having to play, so were we! Rossendale had gone home. Had enough.

The final was one of those games that will keep people talking for years. The Grand Final of the previous night was reflected in the fact that Wigan took an early lead. Harris showed his class and glided over for an excellent score. Then Sale scored twice to make it 2-1. Half time. Coach Butler reminded the boys they were still in it. Kian started the second half with a superb barn storming try that levelled things. It was surely going to be a repeat of last year's drawn final. Then sport showed how to raise you up on one hand then smash you in the face with the other. Brandan got free. Was hurtling down the touchline to score the winner but was smashed into touch by a devastating tackle from the six foot centre who got up, received the ball and ran the length of the field to win the game. Harsh.

A great day out though. The boys played some excellent rugby and learned the valuable lesson that persistence and not going home can receive its own reward.