Ampthill U13s had cause to celebrate after they were crowned East Midlands champions with a 19-7 defeat of Old Northamptonians.

Captain Lewis Ludlow was the star for Amps with two of his side's three tries during an encounter that was dominated, especially up front, by the Beds outfit.

Ampthill had started their cup campaign with a defeat of Bedford in the semi-finals of the southern region competition that featured eight teams from the area.

Any players interested in joining Ampthill RFC for the new season should email grant@prewer-orsborn.co.uk.
Blues in fine fettle at Don White Memorial Festival

Meanwhile, Bedford Junior Blues U8s reigned victorious in the Don White Memorial Festival at Northampton Old Scouts RFC.

The Blues remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, winning their three group games before seeing off Bugbrooke A 7-5 in the last four with tries from Conor Finch (3), Jamie Frost (2), Joe Sumner and Alex Breeze.

In the final, tries from Finch (2), Frost (2), Patrick Keaveney (2) and Breeze secured a 7-5 victory against Old Scouts A in a tense and exciting encounter.

In the group stages Bedford scored 21 tries as they disposed off Olney A, Bugbrooke B and Old Scouts B.

At the St Neots festival, the U8s, in their last experience of tag rugby, won one and drew one of their four group games.
Bedford beat Ely 4-0, drew 5-5 with Cambridge and were beaten 5-2 and 6-1 by Rushden and Dunstable respectively.

Try scorers on the day were Myles Haughton, Oliver Colbert and Dio Antile.

Bedford U7s were also in action in St Neots, winning one of their four group matches, a 6-4 defeat of Rushden.

In their other outings, the Blues went down 7-6 to Ely, 6-4 to Cambridge and 7-6 to Dunstable.

Thomas Blythman, Joseph Sims, Archie Simmons, Ryan Lammin, Charlie Axford, Gregar Murray, Louis Pendleton and Elliott Croucher all scored for the Blues.

The U11s faced Coventry and Nottingham, losing 10-0 on both occasions despite playing some good rugby.

Elsewhere, there was disappointment for Wootton Upper School U14 girls at the Daily Express Emerging Schools Rugby Festival at Twickenham on Saturday.

Played on the same day as the annual Babcock Trophy game between the Army and Navy in front of 50,000 people, the Beds school lost 5-0 to Winston Churchill, from Woking.

The pair met after Wootton had topped pool A and Winston Churchill pool B in the group stages.