A RUGBY match played on Boxing Day in memory of talented young player Rory Walworth, who died in an accident in September, raised more than £400 to set up a bursary or prize in his name.
The match, played at Salisbury Rugby Club, was being watched by nearly 500 people, including several members of Rory’s family.
But with ten minutes to go, calamity struck when Rory’s brother, Thomas - one of the team captains - dislocated his ankle and fractured a bone in his leg.
He is now recovering at home in Downton with parents Simon and Lynn and sister, Rosie.
Rory, 19, was a former pupil at Bishop Wordsworth’s School (BWS) in Salisbury and played rugby for the first team.
He also played under-17 rugby at county level and was a Dorset & Wiltshire championship winner for four consecutive years with Salisbury RFC.
The teams contesting the Boxing Day match - Salisbury Rozzas and Salisbury Tanks - included many who played rugby with him at school and with the club.
They were captained by Thomas and his cousin, Nico Flanaghan, and wore BWS and Salisbury RFC shirts respectively.family, aunts, uncles and cousins, were enjoying the fiercely-contested game when Thomas fell.
Thomas, who is due to return in a fortnight’s time to Bristol University, where he is reading civil engineering, said: “I picked the ball up and my ankle gave way.
“The adrenaline stopped it hurting straight away.
My ankle is dislocated and I’ve got a fractured fibula.
“They put a screw through my ankle to stabilise it and so the fracture can heal - it’s not been too bad. And it was a good match.”
Mr Walworth said: “Since Rory died, there has been a fair amount of fundraising for Wheels for Life, the charity which buys bikes for kids in the Third World, and we are doing something with BWS.
“The rugby club was another important facet of Rory’s life, and the boys decided to do what they did.
“The club is up for doing it as an annual fixture - they have all been fantastic.”
Rory’s boots were presented by Rosie on a silver salver, etched with the outline of the boots, to winning Salisbury Rozzas’ vice-captain, Tom Martin.
About £420 was raised for the club’s under 13 and under 18 juniors and colts to establish the bursary or prize.
The boots will be retained by Rory’s family and the salver presented annually.
* Rory, 19, was cycling on Witherington Down, near the A36 at Pepperbox Hill on September 12 when his custom-built mountain bike collided with a tractor.
The crowd, including Rory’s immediate
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