Blackadders Touch Rugby are a long established touch team based at Rockcliff Rugby Club. To help celebrate their 15th anniversary as a team they hosted an eight team charity competition on the 9th July, with all profits raised going to the Maggie’s Centre at the Freeman Hospital (www.maggies.org/our-centres/maggies-newcastle/).
Touch rugby is a mixed non contact sport for players of all ages and abilities, where each team would play 6 a side with at least two females on the pitch at all times.
The eight teams were split into two groups for the morning group stages to rank the teams ahead of the playoffs and the finals. Rockcliff Barbarians and Blackadders Touch both made it through the group stages undefeated and met in the cup final.
The Blackadders side were missing a few of their experienced players, who were involved in the refereeing and admin for the event. Rockcliff joined forces with Alnwick Rugby Club and this was the first time the team had played together. Blackadders were proudly wearing their custom Maggie’s vest in purple and took on the Barbarians wearing the black Rockcliff shirts sponsored by the Rockcliff Foundation. Both teams played extremely well in the heat, with Blackadders showing a touch of class and winning the cup.
The plate final saw Big Trunks (Mammoet Ltd work team) go head to head against Tynedale Temptations. The tense final, which resulted in a drop-off, was won by Tynedale with only seconds to spare.
Well done and thank you to all the teams who took part making the day such a great success and fun atmosphere. Through this event and other team fundraising activities £7,934.16 was raised for Maggie’s.
If you are interested in trying touch rugby, social touch sessions run throughout the year on Thursday nights 6pm – 7pm at Rockcliff RFC. For further details please go to the Blackadders website www.blackadderstouch.com.
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