Under 18s coach Gary Bowyer took a 17-man squad to Switzerland for an end of season tournament over the weekend.

The young Rovers' were pitted against hosts Altstätten, Sturm Graz and Ajax Cape Town, and although they went through the tournament conceding just the one goal, a fifth place finish was their only reward.

Rovers got off to a winning start against Altstätten in their opening game. A fine first half lob from John O'Sullivan was followed by a tap home from close-range by Tom Hitchcock after a strong run from Micah Evans as Rovers won 2-0.

The second game saw them face the eventual tournament winners, Sturm Graz.

The match ended goalless, but Rovers had what seemed like a perfectly good goal ruled out when Will James saw his header cross the line, but as the defender cleared away a corner kick given and not the goal.

Their final group match saw them face Ajax Cape Town in which Rovers lost the match 1-0. James Knowles missed out on the chance of sending Rovers through to the last four of the competition when his penalty kick was well saved. Ajax Cape Town progressing at Rovers' expense, they would eventually lose to Sturm Graz in the final.

A fifth place play-off followed for Rovers with them defeating Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties after a goalless draw.

"It was a well-run tournament and it subjected our players to foreign competition," said Gary Bowyer.

"It was an under 19s tournament but we took a squad of under 17s and 16s in preparation for next season.

"The whole event is a good learning experience for the players for their development.

"We are slightly disappointed not to win the tournament even with us sending a squad that young."

Squad: Urwin, Ajagbe, Henley, Knowles, Pearson, Banton, Evans, Hands, Hitchcock, Pivkovski, O'Sullivan, Rustemaj, James, Vastić, Wylie, Hall, Edwards.