The EIRFC Middlesex U14s Core Values Waterfall Tournament, proved a big hit, having acted as a magnet to some 250 players from 12 teams: an occasion amplified by the Mediterranean temperatures and great support from the touchlines, as the Enfield Playing Fields crackled to the sound of youth rugby (March 30), writes Jonathan Landi.

A tournament which prizes rugby’s core values, much envied by other sports, as much as the competitive element, was certainly very well received, and the feedback from a number of coaches has been overwhelmingly positive.

The rugby also reflected the elements and we were treated to a regal final, as local rivals Old Grammarians outpointed a very tenacious Enfield Ignatians ‘Blues’ team by a converted try in the main bill of fare, the Cup competition.

County protocols prevent us from reporting scores, but suffice to say the ‘Blues’ had won both their Pool D games, having mastered Ealing 2s and Barnet, before shading a humdinger against Ealing 1s in their semi-final, having come from behind to seal the deal via a last-minute penalty.

Ealing went on to win the third place-play off final at the main expense of Finchley 1s.

The Plate headed ‘west’ with Ruislip prevailing at the main expense of Hampstead, as Wasps consoled themselves in the third-place play off final after mastering Ealing 2s.

The great strength tournament is that enables teams to find their natural level as the tournament progresses – no game is a dead rubber - and Barnet were very much in the ascendancy in the Shield final after ruling the roost against Saracens Barbarians.

The third place ‘Shield’ play-off pitched Enfield Ignatians Golds against Finchley 2s. The blue and golds had had it tough after losing both pool games, but they hung on tenaciously on this occasion, as only a successful conversion separated the sides at the final whistle.

However, there was another silver lining for the EIRFC Golds as they were awarded the Core Values Trophy (as determined by the referees), having been deemed to be the team which best embodied the sport's core values as the rugby spirit shone through.

John Georgiou, a key organiser of the tournament in tandem with David Russell, said: “I thought that all the players [from all the teams] handled the occasion really well, and some great rugby was played. The support from the touchlines was simply fantastic.”

It was rugby at it’s best and, hopefully, the club will again step up to the plate by repeating the exercise next season. As one coach commented: “We can’t wait until next year.”