Reading Rugby Club's Under 14 Girls were one of eight girls' teams in a 200th anniversary tournament at the birthplace of the game, Rugby School - and came away runners-up at their first time ever playing sevens.

Two hundred years ago, in 1823, William Webb Ellis took the ball in his arms and ran with it on The Close at Rugby School, and the game now known globally as rugby was born.

As part of the 200 years' celebtrations, the school organised a very special sevens tournament on Saturday 1st April for under 14s girls and boys teams - eight of each.

The Reading team immediately found their spark with a try only 41 seconds in.

Opponents Stoke Park found it almost impossible to get the ball over the halfway line. The occasional break away was quickly chased down, often by the fearless Grace.

The game ended 71-0, and there was more to come. The following matches against Old Northamptonians and Fosse Falcons concluded with only 17 points conceded and 144 scored, leaving Reading in a healthy first place in the group.

The semi-final against Barkers’ Butts was no different, ending a convincing 59-0. Eleven Reading girls (Amy, Chloe, Emily B, Emily M, Erica, Evie, Grace, Izzy, Lottie, Sienna and Zanthe) were bolstered by club friends Bella, Georgina, Izzy and Sophie from Gosford All Blacks.

Unfortunately the side went down 26-0 in the final to Mansfield, but everyone was full of pride.

RRFC President, Yasmin Miller, said: "It was wonderful to watch our team in such historic surroundings, playing with commitment, flair, and a level of support and teamwork that would have been the pride of an adult side."