The early summer sun, along with strong gusty winds, set the scene for a great afternoon of football with teams from Clatford, Hatherden, Kimpton,Vernham Dean,St Marybourne, Abbotts Ann,Appleshaw, Shipton Bellinger , and Amport all contesting this year’s honours.
Lions in the Community coaches Cathy Devereux, Joe Carter and Ben Cooper , along with year 11 Harrow Way student JJ Budden, were the officials for the afternoon. They were impressed with the respect shown by all the players, as well as the superb football skills and teamwork on display.
Fantastic pool matches were completed, points calaculated and play off matches announced. Winning all their pool matches Shipton Bellinger A met Kimpton in one semi-final, while unbeaten Clatford met St Marybourne in the other. Against expectations, and without a penalty shootout in sight , Kimpton and St Marybourne deservedly won through to the final.
As befitting a tournament of excellent football and sportsmanship, the final was no exception with St Marybourne scoring two superb goals to become 2015 Rural Schools Tournament victors!

.Finally a huge thank-you to Mrs Salmon and her team of Harrow Way leaders for their fantastic support all day, all the players for their enthusiasm and effort throughout the tournament, teachers and parents from all eight schools and to Cathy Devereux and Lions in the Community for their continued excellent support of football in Andover.