FOOTBALL: Rugby Town Juniors welcome teams from USA

Celtic Grange from USA visit Rugby Town Boys and Girls teams

Rugby Town boys and girls teams are in their seventh year of the annual hosting of the visiting teams from the USA.

This time there were two games against Celtic Grange under floodlights.

It was the first experience of the international link-up for many players and parents watching, but such is the relationship built over the years that next year’s event will soon be in the planning.

Rugby Town Girls 1 Celtics 4 (sponsored by Kingsway Store): The game started at a fast pace from both teams, with Rugby’s keeper on form and Celtic’s defence sweeper keeping Rugby at bay. The game settled down and both teams evenly matched, the Celtics taking their chances with some great crossing and Rugby not taking theirs in front of goal.

Every year the USA teams demonstrate a great team spirit with energy and skill set. A great game was finished off with a club house evening, enjoying pizza and chips and time for the players to catch up with each other.

Rugby Town Boys 2 Celtics 4 (sponsored by Unite the Union): Rugby Town Under 14s Boys had the honour of playing the touring team from the USA. A slow start from the home side, along with some good quick passing and movement gave the Celtics an early advantage, seeing them lead 2-1 at the interval.

Rugby missed some big chances in both halves, but again Celtics were quick out of the traps and extended their lead to 1-4. Rugby kept pressing and Haines collected his brace to finalise a 2-4 victory to the USA.