RIBBLESDALE High School is planning on making its tag rugby festival an annual event after the inaugural competition proved to be a big hit.

The festival was held to celebrate the official opening of the school's brand new sports pavilion and funding received from the RFU for new rugby posts and equipment.

Held on the school playing fields on Langshaw Avenue, the festival included eight teams from six schools. Chatburn and Pendle Primary School both entered two teams while Mellor, Brookside, Balderstone and St Michael and St Johns were all represented.

Teams were split in to two mini leagues with the winners of each group progressing to the final.

And it was Pendle Primary School from Clitheroe who came out on top, beating St Michael and St John's 5-4 in a thrilling final.

The teams, made up of both boys and girls, included a squad of 10 players for the seven-a-side competition.

A number of the schools had received tag rugby coaching leading up the festival while others were experiencing the oval ball game for the first time.

Members of Ribblesdale High School's own rugby teams helped with the coaching of the primary school teams on the day.

The successful event was jointly coordinated by Ribblesdale High School's PE department.

PE teacher Neil Ashworth said: "The festival was a great success and we would love to make this an annual event. While there were some children who had some tag rugby coaching and some who hadn't, the whole emphasis was enjoyment and encouraging youngsters to play rugby.

"And it was great to see both boys and girls really enjoying themselves."

"There were more than 100 youngsters playing rugby while children from our own rugby team helped with the coaching on the day."

Ribblesdale High School is currently forging links with Clitheroe Rugby Club and a number of pupils already play for the club's Buccaneers team.