More than 500 schoolchildren got the chance to play on one of the world's great rugby league stadiums during the third annual Bradford Bulls Bull Tag Tournament.

Players from 41 schools took part in the event which also used the nearby West Bowling's pitches, but a major switch after ten of the 21 games in each of the eight leagues meant that everyone also had the opportunity to play on the main Odsal pitch.

Given the wet weather late last week, there wasn't too much rain, with organiser Claire Myers, the South Bradford School Sports Part-nership development manager, saying: "The only downpour came at lunchtime for about half an hour. I got soaked but none of the kids did!

"We divided West Bowling's pitch into four arenas and did likewise with Odsal.

"We had the capacity to deal with 560 children from 45 schools but with four teams dropping out we were down to 520 youngsters.

"Teams had ten in each squad, with seven on the pitch at any one time, three of whom had to be girls.

"It's especially important to keep girls playing sport, and they love tag tournaments.

"We also had 72 leaders from years nine, ten and eleven at Tong, Bradford Cathedral College, Buttershaw, Dixons Academy and Yorkshire Martyrs who helped to run the event.

"There were also 18 referees from Tong, Buttershaw and Bradford Cathedral College who had all attended the Rugby Football League's match officials' course."

Myers, who was assisted by Helen Midgley at the Child Victims of Crime charity event, added: "As it was our third Bull Tag Tournament, we had ironed things out from the first two, so it was the best of the three and the skill levels of the children were also better.

"That is down to the coaching from the Bulls, Bradford Council and the Tong School Sports Partnership.

"The tournament was won by Russell Hall School from Queensbury, who defeated Buttershaw (who qualified through Tong) in the final.

"That was made more special because they came on to the pitch down the players' tunnel and ran on through a V shape formed by the award-winning national Year Seven cheerleaders from Yorkshire Martyrs. They also entertained everybody at half-time."

Myers said: "The feedback we have had is that it was a fantastic event and, as you can imagine, it was quite a spectacle with so many children taking part. But the aim is also to increase participation in rugby league and to keep the children fit."

Russell Hall now go on to the regional finals at Dewsbury Rams' Tetley Stadium at the end of the month.