Ulverston ARLFC held the first ‘gala’ mini rugby festival since the summer break on what was an autumnal morning at Priory Road last Sunday.

All eight amateur rugby league clubs from the Furness area, plus junior side Marsh Hornets, were represented as youngsters from under-6 to under-8 level came to have fun and develop their skills.

The kids on show were able to learn through playing in what is very much their formative years of playing the sport, with plenty of them only taking it up as the year has gone on.

The rugby league season may be coming to an end soon, but clubs are still taking on more youngsters and growing their junior sections as they look to develop the full-fledged players of tomorrow.

From the host club, under-7s coach Dave Oakley said: “Every club takes it in turns to run what we call a ‘gala’ and I think we’ve got around 25 teams from under-6s through to under-8s and we’ve got an under-10s game going on the pitch as well.

“It’s really good for the club - we’re able to get the ‘food bar’ on the go to raise some money for the club, but also been able to welcome players from all the teams around the area.

On how Ulverston’s minis section has developed in 2019, Oakley added: “As the year goes through, we try and run at least two or three recruitment drives through the local schools and it’s been bearing fruit.

“We’ve got about 20 kids training every week between the three age groups and that’s even with five or six missing every week because of colds, flu, homework, or whatever.”

Some clubs were able to bring more players than others - it was noticeable that Millom loaned a couple to Barrow Island to even out the numbers in one of the games.

Hindpool Tigers had a heavy presence at the event and under-7s coach Darren Clark, who has also led the club’s open age team in the North West Men’s League this season, is proud of what is being achieved.

He said: “Our junior level is really developing and booming. I started last season with around six or seven kids and now I’m carrying 22.

“The feedbacks I’m getting not just from mums and dads but from other coaches is them being very impressed with what we’re doing in the way we’re looking after the kids at what is an up-and-coming club.

“We encourage all kids to play the sport, just as long as them kids are enjoying themselves, that’s what it’s all about.”