MALVERN RFC Youth Development Section held its junior presentation dinner with a record number of junior members in attendance.

Joining the 112 youngsters from the U12 to U17 squads were parents and invited guests, including septuagenarian Cliff Willis, who is an honorary president of the Malvern RFC Youth Development Section.

Chairman Mr Tolley reported, the Malvern RFC YDS squads were expanding rapidly and the total membership of boys had exceeded 200 in early February, with 42 girls taking up the sport with the section's sister organisation, the Malvern Angels.

After the speeches, the club awards for the outstanding junior performers of the year were presented.

Junior Player of the Year: Matthew Tighe (U16); Junior Clubman of the Year: Luke Armitage; (U14) Youth Chairman's Cup: Rhys Coles. Youth Coaches Award: Ben Shaw. Colts Captain's Shield: Adam Green. Squad players of the year: James Kavanagh (U12), Laurence Szymanski (U14), David Wood (U15), Liam Moloney (U16) and Tom Kennedy-Hughes (U17). Best forwards: Joe Harrison (U12), Chris Griffiths (U14), Ben Mason (U15) and Stephen Bowen (U16/17). Best backs: Will Turner (U12), Vaughan Thomas (U14), John Brierly (U15) and Tom Kennedy-Hughes (U16/17). Most improved players: Craig Kear (U12), Oliver Rayner (U14), Stefan Milosavljevich (U15) and Jasper Johns (U16/17). Squadmen of the year: Harry Careless (U12), Jamie Jones (U14), Andy Knott (U15) and Andy Hill (U16/17).

Finally, a special award was presented to Adam Blackmore, the U16/17 coach, who is leaving the area at the end of May to become a senior broadcaster at BBC Radio Solent. Adam, who was the recipient of the Worcestershire Sports Coach of the Year in 2003, was presented with a specially engraved silver-plated hip flask by U16/17 squad players, Stephen Bowen and Dominic Taylor.