Cumbria Rams once again demonstrated the strength of veterans rugby across the county by reaching the final of the Tynedale 10s tournament.
Defending champions Cumbria booked their place in the final with an impressive victory over Northumberland before taking on hosts Tynedale in a hard-fought decider.
Facing a much-strengthened Tynedale side compared to previous years, the Rams battled throughout but ultimately came up short, with the hosts a 20-5 victory, scoring four tries to one.
Despite narrowly missing out on retaining their title, Cumbria captain Chris Wright praised the efforts of the squad.
He said: “Playing again in the final is a testament to the effort and team spirit of the Cumbrian Rams.”
The performance further underlined the continued success of the Rams, the county’s veterans representative side, which brings together former players from across Cumbria’s 19 men’s clubs.
Following the tournament, Neil Marston, Cumbria RFU representative on the RFU board and chairman of Upper Eden Rugby Club, invited the Rams to take part in the Upper Eden Rugby Club Beer and Gin Festival and Cow Splat! event on Saturday August 29 and Sunday August 30.
The side will appear as an invitational team.
The Rams continue to welcome former players from throughout the county back into the game.
Wright is keen to hear from anyone who has previously played rugby in Cumbria and would like to pull on the county colours once again.
“We don’t have contact details for all the players who have represented clubs across Cumbria over the years, so we want them to get in touch if they would like to play again.
“It’s great fun and we do an amazing amount for charity in Cumbria,” he said.
Alongside their exploits on the field, Cumbria Rams are continuing their fundraising efforts for the Wooden Spoon children’s charity.
Last year, the county side came agonisingly close to winning the national Wooden Spoon competition, only being denied by an invitational team made up of former professional players.
The team is appealing for support from both individuals and businesses to help continue the charity’s work for disadvantaged and disabled children across Cumbria.
Donations can be made through the team’s JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/cumbria-spoon-vets-mens-xv-5
