Three players from fhe North-East in the British Lions team returned from the European Flag Championships Number Six after coming close to clinching the title, just six months after taking up the sport.

Toby Taylor, aged 15, Jim Welch, 15 and David Hall, 15, are all from Darlington and all play for Eastbourne Eagles and played major roles at the event which is credit to not only the players but also to the Darlington team as they only set-up in February this year.

Taylor scored three touchdowns and two extra points at the European Championships, as did Welch while Hall scored one interception although he was mainly on defence.

Competing in Vienna, Austria, the team performed very well as they defeated teams from four other nations before succumbing to a strong Germany side in the final. The flag football tournament, which is a non-contact version of gridiron, began with two groups of four, with the GB team in Group A up against Holland, Norway and Austria.

Holland were beaten 29-6 before Norway were thrashed 48-0 and the Lions followed-up these results with 25-0 win against Austria. Switzerland were the semi-final opponents and they were swept-aside 29-6.

Taylor admitted they hadn't expected to do so well saying: "We went there with positive thoughts but we never thought we'd do as well as we did.

"Norway were rubbish but Austria were a good team.

"Germany were good but they took over 60 players so could change and bring on players. We took ten players.

"We were winning at half-way but in the second half they just kept on scoring."

The joint coaches were Gary Marshall, who coaches the Gateshead Senators, and Paul Sinclair who trains national champions, Young Bulls of Birmingham.

Sinclair was delighted with his team's efforts.

"From the result it looks as though it was easy but it wasn't at the time. They were unlucky in the final.

"Germany were really very professional, they took it too serious. They all dressed in black and they marched on to the pitch.

"We really wanted to beat them but we couldn't do it."

Toby, David and Jim, who all attend Eastbourne School, were selected for the squad from around 100 hopeful players who attended regional trials and then a national trial which was used to whittle the squad down to a final ten.

"Just because these lads are from Darlington doesn't mean they can't play the game," said Sinclair.

Continuing: "There are people who don't like soccer or basketball or the other usual sports but are very athletic and flag football is an option.