By Leipziger
May 30 2006

The first Newcastle Festival of Rugby saw an exciting display of Sevens rugby in a fun atmosphere at Kingston Park on Saturday.

Despite an early start and 9-hour duration, the West Stand hosted an impressive crowd throughout the day, and particularly for the much-anticipated Legends match in the afternoon.

 

The Spinnaka Falcons 7s, on the KP first team pitch, began at 10am with surprise package Tynedale beating Tom May’s Templars in the first match 26-0.  The Falcons then opened Group B with a 36-0 defeat of the Stoned Pups, wearing pink and including one player having Sexual Chocolate emblazoned on his back.

 

The Falcons won all three of their group games, also beating Canterbury Crew 26-14 and the Sinners 21-17.  The Army side ‘Slashers’ ominously took apart their group opponents, with only Tynedale providing a decent challenge.  Those two sides proceeded to the semi-finals with the Falcons and Canterbury Crew.

 

The first semi-final saw the Falcons score then concede tries against Tynedale before Cameron Johnston scored the winner in a 22-17 victory.  The Slashers then hammered Canterbury Crew 45-5.

 

The Falcons Legends then took to the field to play the Clems, with a team including Rob Andrew, Doddie Weir, Garath Archer, Tom May, Steve O’Neill, Ross Wilkinson and Peter Walton.  The 10-a-side match was lively and entertaining, with the Legends winning 34-5 with May, O’Neill, Craig Chalmers, Martin Shaw, Andrew and Wilkinson.

 

Following the Plate finals and the finals of the Social and Northumberland 7s, won by Golden Touch and Team Northumbria and Durham University respectively, the final game of the day between the Falcons and Slashers got underway.

 

The Slashers quickly ran up a 19-0 lead, before Ed Burrill, impressive all day, pulled one bacl.  The Falcons scored again but despite Burrill’s second, the Fijians went 33-19 up.  Newcastle managed to equalise, but the last score went to the Slashers who won the trophy, 40-33.

 

The best team won the tournament, showing great pace and finishing.  The Falcons though played well on the day with Burrill, Tim Visser and Cameron Johnston in particular looking promising.

 

A few more regular sides to increase the standard of play further, and this day should become a popular regular event.