Old Merchant Taylors’ Rams took the honours at the Amersham and Chilterns Under-17’s 10s tournament.

The Rams managed to hold their concentration, as delays extended the game timetable, and as the whistle went on the final match they knew their 17-7 victory over Tring was enough to provide the first trophy in their new clubhouse.

The day had begun in some uncertainty as the Northwood club were only able to call on two qualified front row players into their 14-man squad. In fact they only had four forwards in total, as selection was hit by injury, Middlesex commitments, holidays and various school trips.

The other competing teams generously agreed to play uncontested scrums in their matches with the Rams.

Barnet, with only 12 players themselves, did not have much leeway to alter their tactics. Hooker Max Kaye outpaced their winger to score the opener for OMT. Jake Hyman made the most of the weak defence of his opposite number to score under the posts from 30m out and seal a 21-5 win.

In the next game, the Rams earned a 26-10 victory over Fullerians with Hyman and Kaye taking their try tally to three each.

OMT had to work hard against a strong Oxford side as they battled to a 12-0 win.

The outstanding individual try of the tournament came from Harry Bellman, starting in the second row, who found himself isolated on the left wing midway through the second half.

Stepping inside the first man, he then rode outside the tackle of the next, cut back in sharply off his left foot to beat two more covering defenders, and raced away to score under the posts.

The Rams had to settle for a draw against the hosts after failing to put away a number of chances in the second half.

By the time they had to play their last match against a strong Tring side they knew that a win would bring them glory.

A fast start enabled the Rams to score two tries within the first five minutes.

Tring got a score back early in the second half, but with a few minutes to go, several phases led to some space on the right, which Meats exploited and the Rams scored in the right hand corner to secure the trophy.