It was a ruby anniversary with a difference, as North Walsham Rugby Club celebrated its 40th minis festival.

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club hosted a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. George Dunscombe (Crusaders) with the ball. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club hosted a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. George Dunscombe (Crusaders) with the ball. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: �archant2017)

About 900 youngsters, aged from six to 12, from clubs across four counties poured into Scottow for five hours of rugby, playing 185 matches with sometimes 24 in progress simultaneously.

Minis chairman Mike Mack, who played in some of the early festivals, said: 'The festival was the biggest yet and the day was a massive success. The weather was perfect, with sufficient overnight rain for the players to get muddy, and it was good to see the sport's core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship so evident.'

Eastern Daily Press: Diss will be looking to close in on promotion with victory over Campion this weekend. Picture: ARCHANTDiss will be looking to close in on promotion with victory over Campion this weekend. Picture: ARCHANT (Image: ©archant2017)

Many playing at the festival have gone onto illustrious rugby careers including Ben and Tom Youngs, who represented Holt.

Club president Dave Horne said: 'it was a great day; wonderful to see so many talented youngsters enjoying themselves.'

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold Under12's V West Norfolk. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold Under12's V West Norfolk. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Swaffham (yellow) V Wymondham PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Swaffham (yellow) V Wymondham PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V North Walsham PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V North Walsham PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. George Dunscombe (Crusaders) with the ball. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. George Dunscombe (Crusaders) with the ball. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Norwich (red) v Holt PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Norwich (red) v Holt PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Norwich (red) v Holt PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Norwich (red) v Holt PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Norwich (red) v Holt PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Norwich (red) v Holt PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Norwich (red) v Holt PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Norwich (red) v Holt PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V North Walsham PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V North Walsham PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V North Walsham PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V North Walsham PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Crusaders V Holt. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Crusaders V Holt. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Crusaders Under 10's v Wymondham. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Crusaders Under 10's v Wymondham. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V Bury PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V Bury PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V Bury PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V Bury PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Holt Under 11's (black) V West Norfolk. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Holt Under 11's (black) V West Norfolk. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V Bury PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Beccles V Bury PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Holt Under 11's (black) V West Norfolk. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Holt Under 11's (black) V West Norfolk. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Holt Under 11's (black) V West Norfolk. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Holt Under 11's (black) V West Norfolk. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Holt Under 11's (black) V West Norfolk. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Holt Under 11's (black) V West Norfolk. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club hosted their 40th annual mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county last Sunday. Pictured here are . Swaffham U-12s taking on Bury St Edmunds. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club hosted their 40th annual mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county last Sunday. Pictured here are . Swaffham U-12s taking on Bury St Edmunds. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: �archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Swaffham U.12's v Bury. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Swaffham U.12's v Bury. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Swaffham U.12's v Bury. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Swaffham U.12's v Bury. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Swaffham U.12's v Bury. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Swaffham U.12's v Bury. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)

Eastern Daily Press: North Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick ButcherNorth Walsham Rugby Club host a mini rugby festival for junior teams from around the county. Southwold (yellow) V a barbarians team. PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2017)