The idea was the brain child of Nick Pert, one of the players dads, who knew a few of the boys played football on Saturdays for a variety of local clubs. So he suggested the rugby team enter a football tournament for a bit of fun.

And oh my! how fun it was. On the hottest day of the year, the players dressed in their rugby kits, swapping their gum shields for shin guards, and prepared to take on the footballing glitterati at the Hawley Football Club 6-a-side Summer Tournament.

Having come through the 5 group stage matches which included a narrow defeat to EPC (Ex-Bracknell Town) and a 6-0 thumping of our hosts Hawley FC, the boys were all still intact and we had only gone and qualified for knockout stages of the plate competition. An hour long delay to the event then followed due to Thunder and Lightning and this re-energized the team. Clearly not fancying the challenge, our 1/4 Final opposition cried off so it was on to face a Hawley FC who had come through a tense penalty shoot-out to take their place in the Semi-Final.

After a cagey 1st half, the boys skill and strength showed through again and our U13's ran out 3-0 winners and were into the Final to face local EBFA A-League side Wokingham & Emmbrook. Nick gathered the boys together. With thoughts of legendary rousing speeches by the likes of Telfer, O'Connell and McGeechan Nick simply said "Good Luck!"

The Final was a tense, physical and at times a nervous affair. Chances were missed, chances were taken, it was a game of two halves, but the A-Leaguer's battled on to victory and claimed the silverware.

Needless to say we collected our Runners Up medals and stayed to applaud our adversaries as they lifted the trophy. They didn't take up the invitation for a re-match, this time on a rugby pitch, in September. But we certainly raised some eyebrows, made some new friends and represented our club and our sport perfectly.

The funniest moment of the day came from the Tournament Announcer who ahd to announce over the public address system:
"The Runners up in the U13s Competition are.......eh hmmm!......Bracknell Rugby Club"

Well played lads, Thank you parents and well done to Nick for master minding our Great Rugby Takeover!