The traditional curtain raiser to another season of mini-rugby proved a success despite an injury scare at Stoneover Lane in Wootton Bassett on Sunday.

Five hundred players aged seven to 12 from Swindon, Corsham, Chippenham, CATS of Melksham and the home side, lined up for the Wootton Bassett festival.

Injury drama involved Wootton Bassett U11 forward Thomas Mutton, who was taken to hospital with a back injury but later released. He is expected to make a full recovery.

His mother Christie Ash said: “He was in some tough games. He can’t play for two weeks but it hasn’t put him off, he loves his rugby.”

In the U11s competition Chippenham won without conceding a try. Other defences were sound too, with Corsham, CATS and Bassett conceding just four tries in their four matches.

An improving Swindon won the sportsmanship award, while last year’s winners Bassett, with a number of personnel and positional changes, put in an almighty effort to retain their title, losing just once to eventual winners Chippenham.

Bassett dominated the U10s, fielding two teams, the Bears and the Bulls. The Bears swept all before them, winning all five games and conceding just one try.

Swindon came in second with the Bulls completing a double for Bassett by picking up the sportsmanship award.

Chippenham took home the U9s trophy beating the home side to finish unbeaten with three wins.

The U8s really got into the spirit of attacking rugby with a series of high scoring matches.

Chippenham emerged from the try-fest victorious capping the win with an 8-7 victory over CATS which proved the tie breaker after both sides finished with three wins and one loss and even identical try counts.

Some U7 sides were fielding players for whom it was a first competitive experience.

Bassett ended up the winners beating Chippenham, 6-5, and Corsham, 5-4. Swindon won the sportsmanship award.

Just three teams competed in the U12s event, Chippenham edging out Corsham with Bassett third.

Festival committee member and U11s coach Justin Cliff was delighted to see the games played in the right spirit.

He said: “All the clubs were saying what a great event it was. Everyone got along and showed a lot of respect to opposition players and teams. It was a fantastic start to the season.

”Ultimately children’s rugby is about having fun.”