COMBE Primary School took top honours in the Chairman’s Cup Tag Rugby Competition at Horspath Road Sports Ground, Oxford.

They beat St Joseph’s (Carterton) by eight tries to five in the final of the festival, which featured around 500 youngsters from 48 primary schools from throughout Oxfordshire.

The two schools will now go forward to the regional finals at Basingstoke RFC on Wed-nesday, June 16 where they will be joined by losing semi-finalists William Fletcher (Yarnton) and Sonning Common.

In the last four, Combe pipped William Fletcher by five tries to three, while St Joseph’s beat Sonning Common by four tries to one.

The 20 winning teams from the regional finals will then go on to the national finals at Twickenham rugby school on Wednesday, July 7.

Watlington were the B Section winners, beating Kirtlington by seven tries to four in the final.

In the semi-finals, Watlington battled their way past St Francis (Cowley), while Kirtlington saw off St Thomas More (Kidlington).

St Nicholas (Carterton) triumphed in the C Section competition, with Willowcroft (Didcot) runners-up and All Saints (Abingdon) third.

Referees were provided by local clubs and London Wasps RFC, with sports leaders from Henley College helping out.

Prizes were presented by Councillor Hilary Hibbert-Biles, chairman of Oxfordshire County Council, while the tournament was opened by Brian Hook, a former county council chairman, who founded the competition.