A BLACKPOOL pupil narrowly missed out on victory at the weekend after the North of England under 16s rugby team lost to their southern counterparts.

But Edward Kearney, a pupil at Arnold School, is still smiling after finding out he could soon be playing for England under 16s.

Edward, who has attracted interest from Sale, travelled to Loughborough Grammar School last Saturday (February 19) to go head to head with a selection of the finest players in southern England, but despite a sterling performance, South of England had the edge.

But he was shining with optimism when he said: "It really didn't matter who won because it was all a trial for going on to play for England." He went on to explain each player was being graded by England Selectors scouts, and on the Saturday evening they all received a telephone call to say they were picked for the England Development Weekend, which takes place this Friday through to Sunday February 25-27) at Worcester RFU.

Edward explained: "It's an three day intensive training weekend with a view to picking the England and England A team.

"From the 50 players there, 44 will be picked, so I'm really quite confident." He spoke about the match at Loughborough, and said at the beginning of the first-half both teams were playing level, but towards the end the south scored a couple of breakaway trys, ending the first half 15-0 up.

Edward said: "We were doing really well at first, matching the south of England team, but then we flagged and allowed them a lead.

"When it got to the second-half we piled on the pressure and scored a few times, but after this the south came back with a few more of their own."

The south continued to battle onwards and although it was a close game, they finishished 29-25 winners.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.