In a spectacle of bone- crunching tackles and super-fast running more than 150 rugby players from across kent and south London descended on Park House Rugby Club, TIM ASHTON reports.

IT WAS the Park House's annual 10s tournament where 16 teams of five forwards and five backs, play two 10-minute halves.

The teams were organised into four groups of four and the day kicked off with the Park House Barbarians playing Charlton Park.

Both teams made it obvious from the start it was going to be a physical game as there was some clattering play up the middle but Charlton Park eventually ran out winners.

The group was mighty close although the Barbarians lost to Croydon and stole a point off Belsize, the eventual group winners, after a last-minute conversion from in front of the posts was missed.

Group two included GCRFC, an invitation team, who started well with a young and speedy side making quick work of scoring spectacular tries and running out group winners over Park House Badgers, Erith and Shooters Hill.

It was a different story in group three which was very tight and hard to separate.

The Park House Lions managed to keep the ball wide and take advantage of their pace on the ball and they led the group from the off.

However, Westcombe Park IIIs pushed them all the way to the end for the top spot and were unlucky in their defeat to the group winners.

Greenwich RFC displayed some very creative play but were let down by their finishing as were the Met Police Hayes, who surprised all by not winning a match and will be expected to come back stronger next year.

Old Alleynians went straight to business leaving the rest of group four in their wake.

New Ash Green were a strong second and it went down to the last match to settle the group.

King's College were unfortunate not to win a match but showed exactly what the spirit of the tournament was about by playing in a manner which matched their good nature off the field.

Park House Police showed they were a very physical team but lacked pace in certain games to finish off the hard work put in by the forwards.

The Wooden Spoon Final was between the two lowest placed group teams so with pride to play for King's College pulled it together for a last-minute victory against an unlucky Shooters Hill, running out 10-5 winners.

After the hard-fought group stages the semi-finals in the Bowl competition, between the third placed sides, were won by Croydon and Erith.

Croydon won the final 22-0 to lift the Bowl and receive £75.

In the Plate competition, for second placed teams, Charlton Park and the Park House Badgers successfully negotiated the semi-finals.

A slightly one-sided final left Charlton Park with £150 prize money and the coveted Plate Trophy after a 43-5 triumph.

In the main Cup competition Belsize Park and GC won their respective semis to meet each other in the Park House 10s finals.

GCRFC set the standard with a couple of tries being run in under the posts.

This never really gave Belsize a chance to regroup and GC eventually ran in winners with a 55-0 victory.

Organiser from the Barnet Wood Road, Bromley, club Marc Harrison said: "The 2006 Park House 10s was a great success.

"Although a very fun day, it was a great chance for all teams involved to prepare for their forthcoming rugby seasons where a lot of the teams will meet again."

A spokesman for Old Alleynians from Dulwich, who went out in the semi-final of the cup competition, said: "Thanks very much for the invite to Park House 10s, and congratulations on the organisation of a very enjoyable tournament.

"We all had a great day and, even though it was many of our team's first exposure to 10s, we have come to the conclusion it's our favourite shortened rugby format."

For more information on Park House Rugby Club, visit parkhouserugby.co.uk