Basildon stole the show when they triumphed in the Essex Active Sports girls' tag rugby festival at the weekend.

Two teams from the new town club -- the Basildon Birds and the Basildon Chicks -- contested the event in Colchester and the Birds defeated Saffron Walden 9-6 in the final.

"The Birds stormed it," said girls team manager Wendy Le Grave. "No one could come near them.

"But it helps that they have been together for three years -- some of the other teams were new this year.

"The Chicks played six games and won four but lost out on points."

Basildon had earlier defeated Walden 9-7 to top pool one, which also featured teams from Sweyne School, Rayleigh, and Basildon's De La Salle school.

De La Salle's A team topped pool two but were beaten 10-7 in the semi-finals by Walden.

Colchester took second place in pool two but were unable to overcome Basildon in the other semi. The new towners won 8-5.

Published Wednesday, April 16, 2003

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