The National Touch Rugby Championships 2014 started in earnest with six teams entering this year and it promises to be the highest standard of touch played here.
It is similar to rugby league in that each team gets six attempts to move the ball up the field and score a try. The opposition, instead of tackling the ball carrier, simply makes a “touch” to halt that phase of play. If the team in possession cannot score within their six allocated touches, the ball is turned over to the opposition.
It is the simplicity of the game mixed with the speed of ball-in-hand and fast pace that makes it attractive to both men and women. Playing in mixed teams, each team has a roster of 14 players but only six (three men, three women) can be on the pitch at any one time.
The stand-out game was the clash between two teams who have ascended to the top of touch in Cayman recently.
SteppingStones against Island Air always gets the pulse racing in anticipation of a great spectacle and they did not disappoint. SteppingStones drew first blood with a dominant first-half performance.
Early scores for Simon Raftopolous, Rudolf Weder and Chris Brussow rocked Island Air who were missing some key play-makers in the first half.
If Island Air want to be top guns in this division, they need to be quicker than they did in this game.
When Jax McCarty made it 5-1 at the half all the pre-game hype seemed a little overblown. Enter Neil Ainscow, who did much to turn round his team’s fortunes. Island Air started to soar through their elaborate maneuvers and Nic Swartz got one back, followed by two quick touchdowns from Chandra Friesen.
As spirited as the comeback was, SteppingStones were confident that they could score enough to seal the victory. Raftopolous and Brussow added to their personal tally and Morgan Shelver, often the driving force behind the team, scored to make it a South African whitewash on the scoresheet. Kramer Bell finished the game off with a fine solo effort to seal an 8-5 win for SteppingStones.
The other games included Heineken Brew Crew defeating KPMG 7-1. Heineken are traditionally a mix of experience and youth and against a very raw KPMG side, they barely needed to get out of second gear.
Phill Thompson scored a hat-trick of tries while the Westin boys, Eddie and Paul, each weighed in with one apiece.
Lisa Kehoe continued to bewitch and bedazzle the defense with a series of side-steps, swivels and feints.
Her try just after half-time was fine reward for her efforts. The other try was scored by Alex Pineau. Kevin Brett scored for KPMG who battled hard to the end. Many of their players are new to touch rugby and this season will be a steep learning curve for them.
The day’s last game saw a battle royal between Maples and Maples Reserves. There was nothing inferior about the Reserves who had flair, finesse, speed and stamina and simply blew away their namesakes.
They boast a strong roster of established players from the Cayman leagues but it was new recruit Jane Hyde-Smith who was the stand-out player.
New to the island, it is reported that Hyde-Smith represented Australia at touch and her handling skills were evident immediately.
Soft hands allowed for subtle passes and she was pivotal in much of the Reserves’ better moments.
Ably supported by Riley Mullen, the Reserves seemed to score every time they got the ball and Mullen tallied up a generous seven tries. Maples Reserves won easily 17-1.
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