Third Time Lucky for Guisborough

It was a case of third time lucky for Guisborough, the Cleveland-based club, who won the Bas Dudley Memorial Shield at East Retford RFC’s annual Rugby Sevens held at Ordsall Road last Sunday. The Tournament was kindly sponsored by Retford estate agents Brown & Co., and attracted fifteen teams from thirteen different rugby clubs from around the region.

Guisborough, who reached the Shield quarter-finals at their first appearance in the Tournament two years ago and were beaten semi-finalists in the Shield competition last year, narrowly overcame a strong Paviors I side to become this year's Tournament winners. Drawn in a pool in which Dinnington were considered a "seeded" team, Guisborough emerged pool winners with victories over Dinnington and N. Derbyshire, and joined other pool winners Market Rasen, Paviors I and Lincoln in the Shield knockout competition. While Paviors I qualified without conceding a point in their pool games, Lincoln drew with Rugby League side Nottingham Outlaws, the "seeded" side in the pool, and qualified as pool winners by virtue of a better points differential. Market Rasen had comfortably disposed of hosts E. Retford I, Hemsworth and a second Paviors side to make their way to the to the Shield quarter-finals. The clubs finishing third and fourth in the four pools went forward to contest the Plate quarter-finals. Both E. Retford sides found themselves in the Plate competition.

Hemsworth won their quarter-final match, beating a gallant Invitation side comprising a mix of spare players from Chesterfield, Burley and Meden Vale, but E. Retford I were not able to get past Meden Vale in their match, going down finally by 22-10. In the other half of the draw, E. Retford II gave home supporters something to cheer about when they beat N. Derbyshire 17-12 after extra time in their quarter-final game, only to lose to Ollerton in the semi-final. Hemsworth beat Meden Vale to reach the Plate final where they met and lost to Ollerton (22-0).

In the Shield quarter-finals Market Rasen came from behind at half-time to beat Tournament newcomers Burley; Paviors I easily beat their second side; Dinnington beat Lincoln; and Guisborough put an end to Nottingham Outlaws' competition. Paviors I then went on to beat Market Rasen comfortably in the semi-finals, while Guisborough had to work hard to beat Dinnington (17-12) in their game. The final was a close, hard fought game with both teams playing some fast, open sevens rugby, and the result hung in the balance until the end when Guisborough emerged as winners by 17-15.

Club Captain Nick Brough presented the prizes to the winners and runners-up in both the Shield and Plate competitions, as well as mementos to the referees who came from the NLD Referees Society. Man of the Match awards for the Shield and Plate Finals respectively were presented to Danny Graney from Paviors I and Ollerton's Leighton Kirk.

East Retford RFC is very grateful for the support provided for the Tournament by Brown & Co., the main sponsor; the members who contributed messages for the programme; Extreme Hospitality for catering throughout the day; and Mr. Paul Brackenbury for providing the announcer’s stand.