MACCLESFIELD’S Under-11 Tigers retained their title as Manchester Festival champions for another year.

The Macc boys beat Lymm, Stockport, Liverpool Collegiate and Whitchurch before beating Stoke 2-1 in a tense final.

The Blues’ top try scorers were Joe Hale and Will Gregory. Rory Heywood, Scott Greenway, Archie Thorneycroft and Alec Mantel also scored. In the plate competition, the Under-11 Wolves lost out to Vale of Lune in a closely fought quarter-final.

Having beaten Wilmslow and Knustford already this season, the Under-13s were out of the blocks immediately against Crewe, Will Wood touching down on 75 seconds.

Macc’s pack were well drilled and this, combined with superb tackling, great running and accurate passing saw them take a 63-0 win. Jack Sadler ran in five tries.

Macc Under-seven Gladiators lost to Crewe and Nantwich. The Gladiators lost by the odd try, Will Davies and Ross McGlone starring for Macc.

The second game saw the Pirates run out easy winners 7-3. Harry Collett claimed two of the tries.

A combined Pirates and Gladiators team then won the third match 7-4. Harry King and Tom Thwaite-Miles scored two tries each.

The Under-12s frustratingly drew their Festival qualifiers against Ruthin and Stockport and failed to qualify for the quarter-finals.