WEYMOUTH under-15s lost an epic final to Longwell Green on penalties to bring a close to the Weymouth Cougars annual festival of football.

This year’s tournament was of the highest standard with some excellent football and, win or lose, was played in the best possible spirit and every team and every player who took part deserves great credit.

The under-nine’s tournament was won by Weymouth Youth with Hereford-based Ross Royals finishing as runners-up.

Wales-based Rhymney FC and Monmouth Town won the under-11 and under-13 age groups beating Redlands Bandits and Corfe Mullen Juniors in their finals.

Corfe Mullen Juniors also won the under-10’s final overcoming a gallant BSC Grange Athletic side.

Dorchester Dynamos triumphed in the under-12s beating Bristol Rovers SC in the final while Portland United Sports took the honours in the under-14s beating Bristol Rovers SC in a closely fought final.

The minis age groups proved a huge success with the under-sevens and eights providing a feast of entertaining football, as the tournament for these age groups is non competitive all the players taking part received mementos.

Cougars Sixes have been a regular part of Weymouth’s sporting calendar since 1992 and the mayor councillor Graham Winter attended this year’s event, which saw 84 teams compete in age groups under sevens through to the under-15s.

There were some teams who travelled from as far afield as Bristol, Bath and Wales as well as the normal array of Dorset and Hampshire-based teams.

Sponsorship is the very lifeblood of any amateur organisation and the Cougars would like to thank their main sponsors Melcombe Regis Rotary and Portland Stone Ltd, and also to their many pitch sponsors.

The club said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those without whose help and support this competition would not be possible especially to Claire and Matthew from the Dorset Cake Company, Gary for the loan of the PA and all of those who loaned us equipment over the weekend.

“We are particularly grateful to our referees who do an amazing job over two long hard days.

“(Plus) our many helpers who help set up and run the BBQs and refreshment areas, especially those parents and friends who worked so hard to keep us all fed and watered.

“There were many others, too numerous to mention, without whose input the weekend could not have reached such a successful conclusion.”