The finals evening of Enniskillen's Touch Rugby took place last Friday, 6th July, and the night got off to a disappointing start when qualifiers Big Deal had to forfeit their quarter-final match as holidays and other absences hit the side hard, so Barbarians received a bye into the semi-finals.
The teams finishing second and third in the qualifying round robin stage, All Stars and Fast Busters, recorded relatively safe victories over Clubman Select and Macca's respectively, despite a brave effort from both sides.
The final quarter-final brought together Devenish College and Starsky & Touch, and it was the latter who finished on top, setting up a semi-final with round robin leaders, Barbarians.
With Barbarians trailing 3–2, Harriet Parke was the saviour scoring a two point try, her second of the game, with the last play of the match, to leave the score 4–3, much to the annoyance of Starsky & Touch, who claimed that too much time had been played. Referee, Terry McCartney, was having none of it, and the Barbarians were the first team into the final.
The second semi saw the 'pretenders' to Barbarians' crown face off and it was the Fast Busters, in their Barbie pink kits, who recorded a comfortable win over the talented All Stars, 6–4.
And so to the final itself. It is true to say that Barbarians flattered to deceive in the last two weeks of competition and failed to rise to the heights of the opening four. The final was not played in the best of spirits and was a niggly affair with referee McCartney having to use all his experience to deal with both sides, but Robbie Watson, in particular, needed to be calmed down on a number of occasions when he started to lose his cool. However, it was a Richie Finlay inspired performance that saw Fast Busters home 5–3, with Noreen Nethercott's opening score proving decisive. So well done to Midway Service Station sponsored Fast Busters.
A special mention must go to the referees who kept the competition going, especially Terry McCartney for his performances over the final two weeks. James Taggart will be remembered mostly for his yellow cards, that saw so much sunlight that they have faded in colour.
The organisers would also like to thank all the players who took part, people who helped organise and sponsor the teams. Thanks must also go to Maurice Kettyle of Kettyle Irish Foods for the barbecue on finals night, and also to Tully Meadows for the generous helping of ice cream.
Pre-season training commences on Tuesday, 17th July at 7.00pm, not 7.30pm as reported last week. New players welcome.
