WYMONDHAM U10'S hopes of a first Prima Tiger Cup title have been dashed after a semi-final defeat against Stratford-upon-Avon at Welford Road.Stratford were narrow 4-3 winners of a thrilling game at the home of Leicester Tigers, before their Guinness Premiership game against Worcester Warriors on Saturday.

WYMONDHAM U10'S hopes of a first Prima Tiger Cup title have been dashed after a semi-final defeat against Stratford-upon-Avon at Welford Road.

Stratford were narrow 4-3 winners of a thrilling game at the home of Leicester Tigers, before their Guinness Premiership game against Worcester Warriors on Saturday.

Wymondham made the most of their experience travelling up to Leicester the night before the game. They even trained on Nelson Mandela Park, the field across the road from Welford Road on which some of the great Tigers teams of the past have trained, as part of their pre-match preparations.

However, it is Stratford who go through to the final at Welford Road on Saturday, March 7 to play Burton-on-Trent, who beat Lutterworth in the other semi-final.

Dominic Findlay, Wymondham U10s head coach, said: 'The lads are very disappointed to lose, they don't feel that they played to their best.

'They have had a really good time. We didn't expect to get this far in the competition. We are disappointed to lose but overall we have to be happy with how well we have done.'

Scott Clarke, Tigers community manager, said: 'The semi-finals saw some thrilling and very competitive rugby. All four sides should take huge credit for the way they have played and conducted themselves in this season's competition.'

The Prima Tiger Cup, which is supported by Loughborough-based Prima Solutions, is now in its 15th season and is open to U10 teams from across the country.

More than 50 sides entered this year's competition, which began with local festivals at Stoke RFC in Staffordshire, Kenilworth RFC in Warwickshire, Swaffham RFC in Norfolk, Nottingham Boots Corsairs RFC and at Market Harborough RFC in Leicestershire.