TYNEDALE Panthers have won a county rugby sevens tournament after going head-to-head with sides from across Northumberland.

They defeated Morpeth, Alnwick, and Ryton, before getting the better of Morpeth once again in the final, as they clinched the U15 Northumberland Sevens Festival title, at Northern RFC.

The Panthers have now completed a remarkable treble this season, having also won sevens festivals in Durham and Yorkshire, without losing a game throughout.

At the Durham Festival, they enjoyed wins against Ryton, Gateshead, West Hartlepool and Houghton.

And they travelled to Sandal RFC near Wakefield for the Yorkshire event, where they also performed impressively, defeating Baildon, Sandal, West Park Leeds and Doncaster.

Coach Nick Oliver said: “The girls have done remarkably well. Competition will always be tough in Yorkshire, where there are more girls playing rugby than any other county.

“Again they managed a clean sweep. The trophy cabinet is filling up rapidly.”

The success has come during a busy end to the season for the Panthers. Two weeks ago, their U15 players carried the Clermont Auvergne flag onto the pitch at St James’ Park ahead of the European Challenge Cup final, in which Saracens defeated Leinster 20-10.

The honour was bestowed upon the team as a reward for being named Northumberland Rugby team of the month back in October last year.

Earlier this month, their U18 players Holly Thorpe and Maisie James represented England U18 against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.