A twelve strong Teddington team made their way towards the South Coast on a bright and clear Sunday morning to take part in Andover O2 Touch Rugby Club’s inaugural Tournament. Fielding a mixed team with players ranging from 18 to 55 years of age, we felt we had the benefit of both youth and experience, and it seems that we may have been right. We faced three group games in our league to begin with and started, having won the toss, with a score on the very first play of the opening match, leading to a 4-1 win over the team that we would eventually meet again in the final. We followed that with wins of 5-2 and then 5-1 and topped the league earning a semi-final match against the team placed 2nd in the other side of the draw. The semi-final probably produced our best performance with a convincing 7-0 win and some really flowing moves. The final brought a return match against Hungerford RFC, whom we had beaten earlier in the morning. They came out better prepared for our tactics having faced us already, and although we led three times, the score at full time was tied at 3-3. The match would be decided by extra time and a drop-off, where both teams lose a player, initially after the first 2 minutes, and then after each subsequent one, until one or other scores. Having defended a couple of very close calls, we closed the final with a beautifully worked score in the corner with 5 players still on the field. A triumphant end to a great day out, and Teddington’s name on the first Andover O2 Touch trophy ever presented.

In addition to attending Tournaments in and around the region, The Teddington O2 Touch section organizes their own annual events, and hosts mixed social sessions every Friday evening from 7pm. During the Summer, these sessions are conducted at Udney Park, and throughout the rest of the year, we run these on the artificial pitches at Hampton High School under floodlights.

Touch Rugby is an extremely accessible sport and, Teddington O2 Touch is mixed and available to all from 14 years of age. It’s great for fitness, and we approach it in a totally inclusive and social way. Interested in getting involved ? Get in touch with the organizers through the club website, or drop into a Friday night session and give it a go.