RUGBY The Colts proved to be Bath Youth Rugby's very own Lisbon Lions when they saw off international opposition to win the 2010 Portugal Festival last week.

And there was double cause for celebration when Bath number eight Gareth Evans was named as the player of the tournament at the closing awards ceremony.

It was the second successive year Bath had been invited to enter a 25-man squad in the prestigious festival, which featured 64 teams and 1,800 players covering the under-12s, 14s, 16s and Colts age ranges.

Bath had finished runners-up last time round but went one better as they beat a Crawshays Welsh Representative Squad 22-10 in the final.

A large Sunday evening crowd was treated to a hard-fought match which provided a fitting end to two days of sunshine rugby in the heat of Lisbon. Despite leaking a converted try in the opening minute, Bath remained calm and starved Crawshays of any meaningful possession, delivering a powerful display.

The Colts' matches were 15 minutes each way and Bath had played three pool games on the Saturday before progressing through the knockout stages the following day.

Bath were accompanied by Paul Box of Somerset Referees' Society, who provided a valuable refereeing role at the festival, organised by sports travel and events specialists MOVEsports.

The Colts also had a wealth of experience in their touring and management staff. Dave Hanham was lead coach, assisted by Glyn Evans, Kev Woodland and youth chairman John Harrison.

Tour manager Paul Breakey, treasurer John McMeekin, welfare officer Mark Edwards, video photographer Jim Hobby and medic Roger Hanson were also part of the triumphant travelling group.