2013WPFG: Touch Rugby Tournament

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by

John McMurtry

The Italian Fire Brigade dominated the World Police and Fire Games Touch Rugby tournament with Italian Fire 2 completing the competition unbeaten, claiming the Gold Medal with a 3 – 2 win against Italian Fire 1, after extra time, in an entertaining final.

It was a pity that the tournament suffered somewhat with the increased  popularity of TAG Rugby in the UK and Ireland with only two countries entering teams in the competition.

Italy put forward two side, the aforementioned Italian Fire 1 and 2 and Australia entered three sides with New South Wales representing the Fire Brigade, Victoria Vikings representing the Police and Adelaide based The Crow Eaters made up of members from both services.

With so few sides in the competition it was always going to be about the taking part, rather than the winning, but all the teams endeavoured to play entertaining matches in the round robin part of the competition.

WPFG Touch Rugby Round Robin Results

Italian Fire 16–3Crow Eaters
Italian Fire 25–0NSW Fire
Victoria Police Vikings2–11Italian Fire 1
Crow Eaters0–3Italian Fire 2
NSW Fire5–5Victoria Police Vikings
Italian Fire 11–3Italian Fire 2
Victoria Police Vikings4–5Crow Eaters
NSW Fire3–7Italian Fire 1
Italian Fire 29–3Victoria Police Vikings
Crow Eaters6–3NSW Fire

The Italian sides dominated the pool matches with both Italian Fire 1 and 2 making the Gold Final; The Crow Eaters and Victoria Vikings making the Bronze Final.

WPFG Touch Rugby Bronze Final

The Crow Eaters and the Vikings produced a cagey first half in the Bronze medal play off. The Vikings came out strongly in the second half to score two touchdowns in the second half to claim the bronze.

Crow Eaters 0–2Victoria Police Vikings

WPFG Touch Rugby Gold Final

Italian Fire 2 ended the competition undefeated with their second win over their compatriots in an entertaining final.

Fire 2 went into an early 2 – 0 lead in the first half before Fire 1 fought back to level the game in the second half.

The game went into extra time with whichever team to score first to be declared the winner. Fire 2 found the extra energy and created space to grab the golden try and the gold medal!

Italian Fire 12–3Italian Fire 2

Images from the matches below.

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