News
2007
On a blustery Wednesday evening at the Worthies the finals night of the Malmesbury Touch Rugby League took place. The showers held off for almost the entire evening, allowing some scintillating touch rugby to be played and some fine BBQ fare enjoyed afterwards. Dave’s Digglers justified their top seeding by romping home in the final to take the honours.
The semi-finals were something and nothing, with last years winners The Soldiers of ‘Naam unable to take their fourth seed spot in the finals due to pre-season training commitments. Having said that they put in a sterling effort this season managing to field a side in most rounds despite their GCSE examinations. Their one loss coming the day after their end of exam celebrations! If the first semi final was a damp squib then the second, which put seeds 2 & 3 on a collision course, was fireworks all the way. The Rattlebone Inn, led superbly by Mark Goodway, blended youth and experience almost to perfection – almost. In an end to end encounter, with both sides playing some truly exquisite touch rugby it was Weir’s Wildcards who took the spoils at the final whistle. If the Wildcards had not crossed the white wash a couple of time in the dying moments the scoreline would have been much less flattering. Final score Rattlebone 4 Weir’s Wildcards 8.
Dave’s Digglers went into final without the stresses and strains of a preceding semi and looked by far the fresher of the two finalists. Weir’s Wildcards on the other hand, although full of enthusiasm, were unable to fire for the full 40 minutes and ran out steam some time before the final whistle. There was however sufficient energy levels for some outstanding scores and end to end touch rugby. Perhaps the pick of the tries a length of the field run by the Wildcards flying Scotsman Jimbo. When the final whistle blew the Digglers had amassed a 10 -3 lead and were deserved winners.
2006
28th June 2006 saw the semi finals and Final of the Malmesbury Touch Rugby 2006 being played on a splendid summer evenings, in bright sunshine and little wind. The ideal playing conditions saw the quality of the touch rugby exceed the the high standards set during the previous 5 weeks of league competition. This was the second season of structured league competition and of the six teams that were entered, two were new, two were under a new name and two had existing experience last time out.
Huw Jones scrapped his beaten finalists The Taffy Apples from last year and re-emerged with the Egg Catchers. Unfortunately the change of name did little to improved their chances of lifting the silverware, they were again beaten in the final. Joe Beardmore’s Inter Yerma proved to be the surprise package of the tournament, always well prepared with a smattering of electrifying pace and touch rugby know-how, they narrowly lost all but one of their games and will surely be one of the teams to beat next year.
Last year’s winners Lemon’s Melons weren’t entered as captain Graham Lemon had undergone surgery. His mantel was picked up Dan Reynolds and Brent Dravitzki who organised the self styled Maverick & Goose team, which was regularly fielded a raft of quality touch rugby players. In addition to this Maverick and Goose were one of two teams who regularly fielded a mixed team. The other team regularly fielding a mixed team was Team Aled, once again entered by team captain Aled James. This year Aled adopted a much more ruthless approach in his player procurement and went one better than last year’s plate victory with a place in the semi-finals.
Ever since Malmesbury Touch Rugby began in 2004 a team from Sherston has always been threated. This year saw words put into action with Mark Goodway entering the Sherston Hornetss (sic) into the league. To say that these chaps liked a close game is an understatement – they drew two of their games and scored the second highest number of tries but narrowly missed out on a play-off place. The Untouchables, beaten in the semi-finals last year were in once again and this year they fulfilled their potential. Their captain, Myles Cavendish, did a wonderful job of adding to his team from last year with players coming from as far a field as Bath and Chippenham.
The first semi final pitted The Egg Catchers against Team Aled. Close affair that the Egg Catchers eventually sneaked 10 – 8. The second semi saw the Untouchables take on Maverick & Goose. In a keenly contested tie, the Untouchables eventually ran out winners 7 – 6. The Final was played between the Egg Catchers and Untouchables with experience being no match for youth. The Untouchables running out eventual 7 – 5 winners. Well done to all members of the Untouchables (and good luck with your exams!): Myles Cavendish, Tom Stanley, Liam Baker, Matt Johnson, Josh Ingram, Will Richards, Jody Acheson, Ben Riley, James Wright, George Moore.
2005
2005 saw the first season of structured league competition. Five teams were entered, with three coming from Dyson, one from Malmesbury Rugby Club and Team of talented local school boys.
The three Dyson teams were Lemon’s Melons (captained by Graham Lemon), Young Blood (captained by Rob Gow) and Team Aled (captained by Aled James). The team captains decided to distribute Dyson playing resources across each team evenly and this resulted not only in some strong competition but also each team including ladies in their player base.
The Taffy Apples were entered by Huw Jones and their number was originally to be drawn from Malmesbury Rugby Club. However due to terminal apathy from some rugby players further recruitment was successfully carried out in areas as diverse as the National Childbirth Trust and Malmesbury School. Although Huw entered the team he rarely played. Deciding instead to referee games rather play in them.
The Untouchables were entered by Miles Cavendish (one of the touch pioneers from 2004) and made up entirely of pupils from Malmesbury School. Their flair, speed and all round rugby ability were an asset to the competition and they conducted themselves in an exemplary fashion.
The final team, Last Orders was a team put in place with no captain or players. Instead it was used as a vehicle for players wishing to play but who couldn’t make their team’s earlier games due to work or family commitment. It was also used by players who wanted to have another run around. Last Orders always played in the final slot and always played attacking touch rugby.
2004
Malmesbury Touch Rugby was formed in May 2004 by a group of touch rugby enthusiasts. Three matches were played each week with two teams competing on a “test series”. No formalised teams took part and the emphasis was on having fun and learning the skills required to play touch rugby.