ORGANISERS of the annual Wayne Barnes Invitational Match at Bream RFC hope the event has raised around £7,500 for Breast Cancer Now.

This year’s iteration of the match was the third in a row, as international referee Barnes returned to his hometown with some well-known friends to tackle an invitational Bream side.

The hosts however ran out winners in a close match, defeating Barnes’ men 27-17, with Gloucester and England man Matt Kvesic and outgoing Bath head coach Mike Ford.

“It was a really good day,” said Bream head coach Dave Emery, who helped arrange the event.

“The weather did us pretty well and I think we had about 500 people there which was a good turn-out.

“It was a good, competitive game that was closely contested but I think we had the edge in the end with a bit of youth in our side.

“I think the first tackle of the game was from ex-Newport prop Boris Stankovich so that was pretty interesting.

“Nick Wood refereed half a game and Matt Kvesic, although he couldn’t play, was in attendance too. Wayne had JP Doyle there too so it was a good day all in all.”

Auctions held after the match in aid of the cancer charity saw signed Bath and Gloucester shirts go for around £400 each, while a signed shirt from George Ford used against France and a signed shirt from England’s Six Nations squad both sold for £500 each.