MORE than 600 players and supporters descended on the 18th annual Westcliff RFC Under 13 tournament on Sunday.

Teams from all over East Anglia and the South East took part and the eventual winners were London Irish, a superbly drilled outfit who beat Shelford from Cambridgeshire in the final.

The weather was superb for the eight-minutes each way games and though the ground was hard there were very few injuries.

There was no luck for the home-side who went out of the main competition and fell at the semi-final hurdle of the plate. Thurrock too went out early on.

Westcliff president Len Radley praised the organisers of the event and the trophies were presented by Westcliff's chairman of youth rugby Will Hill.

"There was some great rugby played and the size of some of the players is amazing, you don't expect near six-footers in the Under 13's," said club press officer Geoff Sawyer.

"London Irish were an outstanding team that looked and played smartly. It was a magnificent day for all those who played and watched."