It’s been a great year for Tag Rugby in West Lancs.
This year’s Final was probably played at the highest standard ever with Town Green, Aughton beating Ormskirk CE 5 – 3. This being the Ormskirk CE team that went to the Wigan Warrior’s Primary Schools’ Tag Rugby League Tournament and won it. Whoever thought that a West Lancs school would show Wigan schools how to play rugby ?
Hardly surprising then that Town Green have since been crowned County Champions at the Lancashire County Finals. Many congratulations to teacher Nick Huxley, coach Norman Hall and all the children. West Lancs have now provided finalists at the County Finals, and four winners, in the last six years. We know how to play Tag Rugby around here.
Third placed Tarleton Holy Trinity, too, represented West Lancs in the RFU’s ‘Tag 2 Twickenham’ competition. They played in the regional finals in Manchester. They came second and earned the right to jointly represent the North West at the National Finals at Rugby School on the 8th July. We wish them the best of luck.
In this Lancs. RFU Tournament St Michael’s, Aughton did brilliantly to come 2nd in a difficult group and take a place in the Cup Semi Finals.
Elsewhere in the Tournament Nicol Mere 1sts & 2nds, from Bryn, coached by their headteacher Paul Gubbins ( now a respectable member of the community for those of you only knew him as an Ormskirk RUFC Colt ) provided both the finalists for the Bowl Final. For the irredeemably stupid this means that Nicol Mere won the Bowl.
Much improved under enthusiastic teacher / coach Suzanne Dalton, Newburgh 1sts won the Plate competition, beating the similarly much improved Asmall 1sts
4 – 3 in the Final. Newburgh made it a Double by winning the coveted Fletcher Fairplay Trophy.
Also a word about Pinfold. They have 36 children on roll. They put out two Tag Rugby teams on a regular basis. They no longer win the Plate, but verge on winning the Bowl, this time losing out 1- 2 to Nicol Mere in the semi finals. Headteacher Gill Gillison should be justly proud, but knowing her lust for silverware, probably isn’t.
It is tough luck on the likes of St Michael’s, Pinfold, Asmall & Newburgh, all good teams, that they happen to be playing in the North West of England’s Tag Rugby Hot Spot !
