The U7,U8,U9,U10 & U12 squads took part in the North Dorset Festival and had a successful morning, winning more games than they lost against teams from across the SW and Wales. Our U8s and U9s teams were also awarded the Spirit of Rugby Trophy for quality of play and sportsmanship in their competitions! Well done to our U8s and U9s, and to everybody who represented Blandford so well on the day!.

Our U16s ran out convincing winners 31-16 in a well contested U16s D&W Cup Final against Chippenham watched by a large crowd at Larksmead. Full Match report below

Blandford 31 Chippenham 16
The D&W u16 Premiership Cup Final took place at Blandford RFC in perfect conditions
Chippenham started strongly forcing mistakes and quickly drove over for the first score to make it 0 - 5. The conversion was missed. Two infringements resulting in penalties found Blandford 0 - 11 down.
Once Blandford settled down and began to play going through the gears and phases they pushed Chippenham back in to there half and now forcing them in to making mistakes and conceding a stream of penalties. From a lineout that fed Lewis (SH) out to Jacka (FH) through the hands and Dan Burt our electric winger scored in the corner. A fantastic conversion by Korbin Clark on the touchline and it was now 7 - 11.
Harry Jones made a trademark line break and was surely going to score until his hamstring went when he was in full flight. The Blandford Captain could play no further part in the game and this was a massive loss to the team.
Blandford moved their powerful No 8 Henry Veale and explosive open side Ron Wates in to the centres and they began to make massive dents in the Chippenham defence. The rest of the forwards now had the bit between their teeth and after a no arms tackle on Ron who punched through the Chippenham rearguard resulting in a yellow card.
From the lineout and a superb driving maul, WIll De Mello folded up the Chippenham defence like a stack of deckchairs and powered over for a try. Another superb conversion from Korbin and it was 14 - 11.
Right on the stroke of half time Blandford gave a penalty away and Chippenham kicked for the corner, resulting in the Chippenham winger gathering the ball to score to make it 14 - 16.
Blandford controlled the second half from the KO they put pressure on Chippenham in every area and demonstrated what a good team they are.
From a driving maul Max Love the athletic blindside flanker drove over for the first score of the half which was converted by Korbin to make the score 21 16.
Blandford were having phase after phase of controlled rugby letting the ball do the work, credit to Chippenham who defended with real integrity to keep them out. It was only a matter of time and after a great break from Ron Wates and a lovely support line from Jacka Ware the forwards poured over the ball and Logan Jarvie who carries like a hungry rhino smashed his way over from five metres another fantastic score which was converted 28 16.
Chippenham conceded another penalty and Korbin easily slotted the ball through the uprights to make it 31 - 16. Chippenham mounted a good attack however Luka Downing was having none of that and not only turned the ball over but carried purposely to stop them. Alex Love our No 8 bashed his way through contact and another penalty to Blandford.
With a kick to the corner and from the resulting lineout it looked like Blandford would score again before a knock on and the final whistle went. Credit to Chippenham who brought the best out of our boys to deny them any points in the second half showed how well the Blandford boys played. Fantastic to see the mutual respect at the end of the game between the two best teams in D&W a fitting final.

Report by Mick Newell.