Minety Annual Seven-a-Side Rugby Tournament
After a tie on points between three teams, this year’s Minety Seven-a-Side Rugby Tournament was decided on the overall number of tries scored. The winners were sevens specialists Armadillos, with a grand total of 20 tries in five games.
Six teams competed in the
tournament, which took place alongside Minety’s playoff match against Bridport.
In addition to the hosts, there were entries from Armadillos, Bridport,
Cricklade, Malmesbury and Pewsey. The format was for each team to play every
other team.
Armadillos got off to a flying
start, beating Cricklade 24-nil.
Strengthened by the fluid running
and passing of their Fijian players, Malmesbury beat Armadillos 19-10 in a
thrillingly close and open game.
Recovering brilliantly from their
early setback, Cricklade then beat Malmesbury 26-24 in the closest match of the
afternoon.
Pewsey are gaining experience in
this form of rugby. Outclassed by the better sides in the tournament, they still
outpaced the hosts and ended fourth in the table.
With many of their players tied up
in the playoff game, Bridport and Minety had the weakest squads and ended up
playing each other for the wooden spoon. Reversing the result of the 15-man
game, Bridport won this encounter 26-10, cheerfully consigning their hosts to
last place.
With all the matches completed,
Armadillos, Cricklade and Malmesbury were tied on 8 points, each having won four
out of their five games. Across the tournament, Cricklade had scored 13 tries,
Malmesbury 15 and Armadillos 20, so Armadillos were judged the overall winners
and awarded the trophy.
A big thanks to all the teams who took part, and to Brendan Rice and James Tweedale for organising a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable afternoon of sevens rugby.