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More than 200 children from primary schools across Widnes took to the Select Security Stadium’s iPitch for a Sky Try rugby league festival.

Youngsters from All Saints Upton, Cronton Church Of England, Our Lady’s, St Bede’s, St John Fisher and West Bank all took part.

The festival is the culmination of six weeks rugby league training delivered at schools across the borough, led by Declan Hulme and Grant Gore from the Vikings community team.

Teacher Adam Paul, from Our Lady’s, said: “We try and do every sport at school, but it’s good to have the coaches coming in as they have a lot more knowledge on rugby than we do.

“Having them come in and sorting out the sessions is great and enables them to teach more skills.

“The kids love it.

“The community coaches are very friendly and the fact they have the Vikings badge on shows that they work for the club and that means something.

“With the kids living in Widnes, rugby is a big part of life.”

The Sky Try rugby league programme was launched at the Select Security Stadium earlier in 2015 as an initiative to reach 700,000 people over the course of the next seven years.

The multi-million pound project will empower rugby league clubs’ charitable foundations across the country to make a massive difference by delivering new opportunities to play, watch and become involved in the sport.

Helen Thompson, from Cronton Church Of England, added: “We brought a full class of 32.

“They usually do PE twice a week, but this is something different.

“The coaches motivate them and they were really excited to be playing at the stadium.

“We have an after school club that is quite popular and quite a few of them come and watch the Vikings.”

Any primary schools interested in taking part in the Sky Try programme with the Vikings can call 0151 495 2250 or visit www.skytry.org