YOUNG rugby players from a County Durham school are emulating the success of their senior counterparts after winning a host of competitions.

This season the Under-14 side at Barnard Castle School have won three competitions, while the senior team travelled to Twickenham where they lost in the final of the Daily Mail Schools Cup.

The Under-14 side beat St Leonard's, Durham 45-12, to take the County Durham cup. Two days later they went on to win the Durham Under-14 Festival of Rugby, beating Emmanuel College, Gateshead, 10-0 in the final.

The school's sevens squad also won the Sedbergh Sevens beating the host team 26-17 in the final.

Throughout the season, the team has only lost three matches and two players - Rory Clegg and Matthew Lister - have been called up to the county Under-15 side.

Coach Howard Charlesworth said the team has worked hard and trained in all weathers. He added: "It is at this age that the foundations are laid. There has been a wonderful team spirit and this was shown in the recent finals."

Captain Rory Clegg added: "It was a proud moment for me to receive the two trophies on behalf of the team. We have improved a lot from last year and each player has done his share. The three boys from Hong Kong have contributed a lot."