THOUSANDS flocked to Marlow Rugby Club for one of the town's biggest events of the year as a young meningitis victim was remembered.

Harry Mills died suddenly aged eleven in 2007 and his family then established Harry’s Cup.

The team Harry played for - the under 12s - did him proud as they stormed to victory to win Harry’s Cup at the annual minis rugby tournament on March 25.

Marlow lifted the cup for the first time since its creation five years ago.

The young sportsmen dedicated their win to him.

As many as 5,000 players and supporters from 140 teams gathered in the sunshine at Marlow Rugby Club to witness the triumph.

After a gruelling four matches, they reached the final against Teddington. Following a nail biting match, the home team beat the Middlesex side 5-3.

Tim Platt, director of minis at the club, said: "We were all very chuffed to win for the first time in five years, we tend to be very good hosts but to finally get our name on the cup was a great feeling and I’m sure the Mills family were very pleased to see Harry’s old team lift the cup dedicated to him."

Officiating the match was Women’s World Cup and Six Nations referee, Clare Daniels, who proudly wore a pair of Harry’s socks in memory of the former player.

The ref was pleased to see so many young players enjoying the sport.

Tim said:"Clare was very enthusiastic, desperately keen and very excited to see so many kids enjoying themselves; she thought it was great for the future of rugby."

Harry’s dad, Richard Mills, of Institute Road, said: "Clare was absolutely great, she did a really good job and she looked very smart in Harry’s socks. It was a lovely way to remember him."

The black and white hooped socks, the idea of Harry’s coach Graeme Kempson, are being sold to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation for which the Mills family have already raised almost £100,000.

Chris Head, Chief Executive of MRF said: "We really are so grateful to everyone who has contributed to Harry’s fund as we rely on voluntary donations to fund our vital work.

"Every pound raised in memory of Harry has made and will continue to make a huge difference and enables us to continue our work." It was a successful tournament for Marlow who went on to win the under 9s B cup final and the under 7s B shield final, with the under 11s pipped to the post by London Irish in the A cup final.

Other victorious Bucks teams included Beaconsfield who won the under 10s A cup final and under 11s B cup final, High Wycombe who won the under 11s B shield final and Amersham and Chiltern who won the under 10s B cup final and drew with Windsor for the bowl B final.

Sian Clarke, manager of the Under 12s at Marlow, described Sunday’s atmosphere as electrifying. She said: "It was just an absolutely fantastic, superb day and the weather was just the cherry on top of the cake. All teams played very well."