AS it has expanded with now 10 junior teams from Under 7s, where Devon women's rugby practice and matches are played, plus its own seniors - it has become obvious that North Tawton Rugby Club needed a better kitchen.

It now has just that, thanks mainly to Sport England who gave a grant of more than £20,000 and the Rugby Football Foundation.

Local MP Mel Stride formally opened the kitchen at the lunch prior to the club playing the Old Technicians from Plymouth.

The clubhouse, with a small kitchen, was built about 15 years ago when the club moved to its present site. The feature of the clubhouse then, and now, was the four changing rooms, all with showers.

Rugby is played on Saturdays, about 150 juniors are there on Sundays, plus the ladies matches. All that means the kitchen is used more often.

Club chairman, Sarah Quick, said: "It means we can now cater for a sit down hot meal for up to 80 people whereas we had only been able to provide a buffet.

"It means the clubhouse is available for more functions," she added. North Tawton Football Club has booked for their presentation evening, the motor cycle club who came last year have booked again for the clubhouse and grounds. There is good parking.

The extension has more than doubled the size of the kitchen and all the equipment is up to the British Standard that was brought in this January.

The money from Sport England went towards the kitchen extension plus a set of mobile flood lights, and a new electric machine for laying lines on the pitches.

Declaring the kitchen open, Mel Stride praised the club, its women's rugby and the achievement of member Clara Nielson who is playing in the national Under 20s squad.

Committee member and clubhouse director, Peter North, thanked everyone who had helped towards the kitchen, as did Sarah Quick, thanking people for their time and energy.