PLYMOUTH Dolphins enjoyed a successful trip to Italy to take part in the Bingham Cup at the weekend.

The Dolphins finished as runners-up out of 32 teams in the Challenge Cup competition in Rome.

They topped their qualifying pool against Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents, Wessexs Wytherns and Boston Ironsides.

They then progressed to the semi-finals where they played and beat Seattle Quake to secure a place in the final against Cork Hellhounds.

However, in the final they went down 17-0 to well-drilled opponents, who had more replacements due to the Dolphins picking up injuries in earlier games.

The defeat brought to an end a 16-game winning streak for the Dolphins, who had won this year’s International Gay Rugby (IGR) Merit League.

Head coach Ciaran Olford said: “To finish second out of the 32 teams is for us our own win.

“We were the talk of the tournament with teams and spectators coming to watch our games rather than their own team. IGR chairs from across the globe were also saying how great we were on and off the pitch and hearing the crowds chanting our song ‘ooo ahh party pod’ from across the pitch was such an amazing experience.

“We will bounce back from this defeat ready to start the pre-season. We are on the lookout for new players experienced or not to join us for the upcoming season and will be holding recruitment sessions throughout the summer.”