Tigers B player Will Baxendall is tackled by two Exiles players. Picture by Laura Holme.
PICTURE GALLERY
BEACH RUGBY TRIANGLE Tigers were the dominant force at this year’s Ryde RFC Beach Rugby Sevens Tournament, held at Appley on Saturday.
Against a backdrop of the thousands of yachts taking part in this year’s Round The Island race, eight teams battled it out for the title.
It is the tenth anniversary of the competition and, as always, friendly banter off the field of play was put aside for every bruising match.
With no holds barred there were plenty of ripped shirts and bandaged ankles just an hour into the tournament.
As it turned out, Triangle Tigers’ A and B side, swept aside all who came before them — including a predominantly Fijian side from Force 7 Regiment, from the Army. Triangle Tigers are Sandown and Shanklin Hurricanes’ sevens sides, and sported a very snazzy new kit sponsored by Triangle Cables.
The Rees brothers, Luke Chandler and Will Baxendall were all in the thick of it.
The competition comprised two pool groups of four teams, and at the end of the group stages, the top teams played each other for the title, while the second teams played one another, and so on, to determine final placings.
Force 7 Regiment finished third, with the two Triangle teams battling it out in the final.
It was the A side who lifted the trophy, after defeating their clubmates 4-0, with two tries apiece for Dan Muir and Richard Booth.
The other teams taking part were South Wilts Exiles (also military), Basingstoke, Fareham Heathens and two teams from host club, Ryde.
Ryde Rugby Club have organised every one of the beach tournaments and show no signs of stopping.
Organiser Paul Roberts, of Ryde Rugby Club, thanked the RFU and the IW Council for their support of the event on the day, and added: "Everybody seemed to have a great day, and it was really great for the spectators, especially with the yachts sailing through The Solent at the same time. The Triangle Tigers A team were worthy winners, they played some attractive rugby."
• Pictures from our online gallery www.iwcpgallery.co.uk below.
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