Monday 01 June 2009

So, the weekend is over. And what a weekend it was.

There was a bit of everything at the first ever Ruck Over Rugby Charitys 7s in Brighton. We couldnt have asked for better weather. At times, the amount of dust coming up off the floor when the hits went in made the players feel like they were playing in the Serengeti! a full-on 24 degrees on Saturday, followed by a 26 degree blast on Sunday meant everyone was stretched. Especially those with hangovers on the Sunday!

Before the results, I want to explain what our 7s is about. And what we want to do to set ourselves aside from everyone else. First off, we are what it says on the tin - a charity 7s. We're run by, organised by, helped by and supported by 100% volunteers. Nobody makes a profit from our running the tournament but the charities involved. This year, that included the referees, who donated their fees, too!We want teams to know that there is no prize money. The trophy is budget and there is no champagne to spray all over each other. What we do have is the most laid back, the friendliest and the biggest feel-good factor tournament around. What we aim to do in the future is embed the ethos of friendship and rugby firmly in our tournament. A group of lads coming together - mucking in to help each other out when they're a player short and not noticing if the fixtures are ten minutes behind - mainly because they're having a great laugh. But we do still want the competition, the big hits and the big teams. And after this year's tournament, I think we're going to have that, year on year.

So onto the days - the ups and downs and the scores.

POOL 1:

Western Dolphins 12- 19   The Rifles

Olorun Identity    36 - 12   Hartpury Freshers

Tregoran Titans    26 - 7    Western Dolphins

The Rifles            17 - 17   Olorun Identity

Hartpury Freshers  5 - 10    Tregoran Titans

Western Dolphins  7 - 57    Olorun Identity

The Rifles            12 - 14   Hartpury Freshers

Olorun Identity     35 - 5    Tregoran Titans

Hartpury Freshers  30 - 0   Western Dolphins

Tregoran Titans    30 - 0   The Rifles

 

Team                                   P  W   D    L    F      A    PD   PTS

Olorun Identity                      4  3    1     0   145  41  104   11

Tregoran Titans                     4  3    0     1   71    47   24   10

Hartpury Freshers                   4  2    0     2   61    58    3     8

The Rifles                              4  1    1     2   48    73  -25    7

Western Dolphins                   4  0    0     4   26    132 -106  4

POOL 2

Wadey's Wonders 10 - 31    Hove RFC

Sussex Legends     0 - 66    The Jedi

Hove RFC             43 - 10    Sussex Legends

The Jedi               38 - 0    Wadey's Wonders

Wadey's Wonders   x - x     Sussex Legends

Hove RFC             12 - 26   The Jedi

 

Team                  P  W  D  L  F     A     PD   PTS

The Jedi              3  3  0  0  130   12  118    9

Hove RFC             3  2  0  1  86    46    40    7

Wadey's Wonders 2  0  0  2  10    69   -59    2

Sussex Legends    2  0  0  2  10   109   -99   2

 

POOL 3

Southern Crusaders     43 - 12   RBS RFC Gun Runners

Blackwater Bar Bars       0 - 59   Magnificent 7

Marauders Academy     26 - 14   Southern Crusaders

RBS RFC Gun Runners   38 - 5    Blackwater Bar Bars

Magnificent 7               0 - 52   Marauders Academy

Southern Crusaders      64 - 7    Blackwater Bar Bars

RBS RFC Gun Runners   27 - 27  Magnificent 7

Blackwater Bar Bars       0 - 30   Marauders Academy

Magnificent 7               5 - 41   Southern Crusaders

Marauders Academy     43 -  5   RBS RFC Gun Runners

Team                       P  W   D   L    F     A    PD    PTS

Marauders Academy   4   4    0   0  151  19   132   12

Southern Crusaders    4   3   0    1  162  50   112   10

Magnificent 7            4   1    1   2    91  120  -29     7

RBS RFC Gun Runners 4   1   1    2    82  118  -36     7

Blackwater Bar Bars    4   0   0    4    12   191 -179   4

POOL 4

Heathfield Rangers       0 - 61    Uprising Beach Resort

Akuma Scorpions        67 - 0     Passingiton

Uprising Beach Resort 35 - 12    Akuma Scorpions

Passingiton                21 - 19   Heathfield Rangers

Heathfield Rangers       0 - 28   Akuma Scorpions

Uprising Beach Resort  19 - 5    Passingiton

Team                       P   W    D    L    F       A     PD    PTS

Uprising Beach Resort 3    3    0    0   115    17    98     9

Akuma Scorpions       3    2    0    1   107    35    72     7

Passingiton               3    1    0    2     26   105  -79     5

Heathfield Rangers     3    0    0    3     19   110  -91     3

So that was the pool stages, the results and the league tables. Although originally we had 20 teams, we had three no shows on the day. That resulted in some re-jigging and then the formation of the Passingiton All-stars that were made up of players from other teams!

The final group games were held on the morning of the second day (the morning after the night before, as it was for most teams). This was particularly difficult, as three teams had obviously had a brilliant night and couldn't get up! Add to that the fact that The Rifles called up to say they were being shipped to Afghanistan that evening, things had to be re-jigged.

No matter, though. We had the 2 top teams from each league going through to the cup. The others formed the plate. Those who lost in the QF of the cup dropped into the shield. Still with me? Good!

So to the knockout stages. Which is where all the fun was!

The first Cup QF saw the Olorun ID boys overcome the Southern Crusaders 43 - 5. Despite a heavy night that involved a hen party, it seems the Olorun ID were well up for it.

The second Cup QF saw the Jedi narrowly defeat the Akuma Scorpions by 21 - 12. Part of the scorpions exit must have been down to their exhausting schedule which involved fielding most of their players throughout the run of the All-stars!

The third QF had the free-flowing Marauders Academy defeat the boys from Tregoran Titans 31 - 7. The Titans were still recovering, by the look (and smell) of them. They turned up in the morning still in their gear from the night before!

the last QF saw local favourites up against the daunting Uprising Beach Resort Fijians, who ran out comfortable winners with a scoreline of 0 - 45.

So the line-up for the cup semis was complete:

Olorun ID against their great mates the Jedi and the Marauders Academy up against the Uprising Beach Resort.

The sheild semis were:

Southern Crusaders vs Akuma Scorpions

Tregoran Titans vs Hove

Before these were played, though, we had the small matter of the plate semis.

The Hartpury Freshers overcame the Magnificent 7 by 29 - 9, whilst

The Passingiton All Stars defeated the RBS Gun Runners 26 - 17. It probably didn't help that a few of the fun runners had themselves a couple of pints before the game. But hell, this is Brighton - why not?!

So the shield semis were up next, where the Akuma Scorpions sorted themselves out and were convincing in their 31 - 5 victory. This didn't include the haymaker beautifully thrown (and it has to be said taken!) that resulted in a yellow card for the fella in the yellow boots! This was despite most of their lads having just played for the All-stars!

The other semi went the way of Hove. A loud crowd cheered them on as they beat the (still hung over) Titans by 26 - 12. One thing about Hove is they had a couple of absolute flyers!

So the first cup semi pitched the mates against each other. The ID came out on top by 26 - 12 in a highly entertaining, energetic and free-flowing game.

The second semi saw the Marauders Academy boys give a great battle to the seemingly unstoppable boys from Uprising. in a very tight game, there was only a converted score in it as the Fijians came out narrowly on top by 19 - 12

So the finals looked like this:

Plate - Passingiton All stars vs Hartpury Freshers

Shield - Akuma Scorpions vs Hove

Cup - Olorun ID vs Uprising Beach Resort

In the plate it was a light hearted but big hitting affair. The warthog like James Macdonald biting at the legs of the Freshers. When the rest of the lads saw he wasn't so hot, they quickly took him off! By then, it was too late and the Freshers, with their counter attacking play, ran out winners by 31 - 12.

In the shield Hove clearly had the support. The Akuma Scorpions, though, had the possession. Hove put up a great fight, but the professionalism of the Scorpions showed and they came out 28 - 14 winners. The good natured crowd showed their appreciation and the Akuma boys were pleased their day was over. They looked like Death walking!

So to the final of the cup. Remeber first, that all of the finals were 10 minutes each way! In 26 degree heat!!!!! The teams were called out onto the pitch and got a great reception from the crowd. The atmosphere was great as the hits went in. The Beach Resort boys (who genuinely do work at a beach resort - chefs, jet ski instructors and animation team alike)  scored two very quick counter attacking tries. As this was happening, the Olorun ID boys looked like the previous night was catching up with them. That hen party they met had obviously taken the wind from their sails and from there on in, they never really got going. The Uprising were relentless and the heat suited them. They were like the Duracell bunny and just kept going. Eventually, they slowed (at the final whistly) and could be happy with their day's work. They ended up 55 - 10 winners!

For me as an organiser, seeing the Fijian boys singing together after the game, with the whole crowd watching, was a highlight. In the true spirit of the day, the Olorun ID boys waited at the side to clap them off.

So that's it, for another year. All that's left to say is thank you. To everyone involved. To the teams, the spectators, the sponsors and the people who gave up their time and money to help.

Next year we plan on being bigger, but carry the same ethos.

We have in our heads two one-day tournaments. A social open division on the Saturday followed by an elite division on the Sunday. The music, the beer, the atmosphere will all be back again - more so! And hopefully, we'll raise even more money!

Look out for us. Provisionally, it'll be the last weekend in May again! Or the weekend before - it depends when Bournemouth is!

Until then, thank you all!

Kev

Ruck Over Rugby Charity 7s organiser.