A high school rugby union team has battered their opponents in a district competition, defeating them 70-0 and 50-5.

At Marl Pits, Rawtenstall, the year 8 Haslingden High School seven-a-side team, and one substitute, played in two matches against teams from Alder Grange School and All Saints High School.

Many of the Haslingden squad also play for community and professional teams with Cameron Stretch and George Williams, both 14, members of the Sale Sharks Development Squad and Rossendale Rugby Club.

Cameron has also been playing for Rochdale for five years, while Eli Morris, 14, only recently joined Rossendale and hopes to progress to the first team, while George Martinez, 14, has played with Rossendale for five years.

The squad first played All Saints in a 14 minute match with the final score 70-0, meaning if all conversions were successful they ran in 10 tries.

George Williams, who hopes to become a professional rugby union player, said: “They had players who played for other teams because we recognised them, but what put us ahead was our development squad experience.”

George Martinez added: “When we scored a try, the ball went back to the other team and we easily got possession back and then scored another try.”

Against Alder Grange, the Haslingden team scored 50 points, and only allowed the opposition to get one try.

When Alder Grange and All Saints played each other, the Haslingden team said it was a much closer match.

The competition was organised by Rossendale Schools’ Sports Partnership.