Three hundred WyreForest children had a ball when they competed in a tag rugby tournament in Kidderminster.
Year Six pupils from 25 schools took part in the competition at the Kidderminster Carolians RFC ground in Marlpool Lane.
Cookley Sebright Primary School were declared the winners, after being unbeaten in all eight games. Second place went to Stourport Primary, while St John’s School A team, Kidderminster, were third.
Cookley and Stourport now go on to compete in the West Mercia finals in Droitwich in May, and then have the chance to progress to regional competitions and ultimately the Tag 2 Twickenham national final to be held at Rugby School in Warwickshire – the birthplace of the game – in July.
Youth Engagement Officer PC Neil Sharpe said: “Everyone who took part had a good time but there was also a serious side to the day, as it was an opportunity for the police to promote the Tackle Safety programme which educates youngsters in personal safety.
“Children are much more receptive to the messages when they are having fun in an informal environment, and we hope that win or lose, they all gained from the day.”
West Mercia has been developing its tag rugby initiative since 2002 in partnership with the Rugby Football Union, and Child Victims of Crime, the national police children’s charity, with local policing officers and police community support officers trained to deliver coaching and run tournaments.