Ark Academy was selected to represent Brent at the Schools Rugby Festival – and a dramatic late winning try from Ahmed Osman meant that the year 8 boys’ team secured the shield in their first tournament.

Ark Academy (pictured left) were chosen to face schools from Richmond, Hounslow, Ealing and Teddington, with Willesden Green-based outfit Kilburn Cosmos supporting the side by lending them kit from their junior section.

The Brent boys battled their way to a 12-12 draw in their first game, followed by two consecutive 12-0 defeats as they finished third in the pool.

That meant they had to face off against Hounslow’s representatives for the shield – and they found themselves in a familiar situation at half-time, trailing 12-0 again.

However, they displayed their heroics in the second period, with Osman the catalyst for a comeback as he powered his way from one end of the pitch to the other to score his side’s first try of the match.

Ace Joseph quickly followed up with another slaloming run down the right wing to score the second try – but both conversions were missed, meaning that Brent were still 12-10 down heading into the closing stages.

However, Antonio Philips and Joel Barros combined in the last phase of play, allowing Abdulkarim Nur to set up Osman, who brushed off four tackles to give Brent a dramatic 15-12 victory.

Meanwhile, Ark Academy’s girls are relatively new to the sport, but that was not at all obvious as they won their opening game 25-5 after strong performances throughout the team gave them a 20-0 half-time lead.

Their second game was always going to be more difficult as the Brent girls faced a combined team from Richmond and Teddington and, although they fought hard, they suffered a 40-0 defeat.

However, the girls were given a new kit for their participation, and all of the players at the tournament were given the chance to meet Maggie Alphonsi MBE, who won the Women’s Rugby World Cup with England last year.