Eleven regular members from Stafford Wednesday night touch rugby took the slightly long trip to the Charles Lewis Memorial Ground last Friday night for the second tournament of the South Staffordshire touch series. The players were accompanied by a smattering of supporters & a very vocal photographer.

In typical touch rugby style, the Stafford team comprised a broad cross section of players from the inexperienced through to rock steady veterans and all abilities in between. Slightly short on numbers the players settled into one sides of six and one of five to take on eight other teams from Essington, Handsworth, Cannock, Walsall, Aston, Wheaton Aston and Penkridge.

A hot evening produced some fast-flowing rugby with each team playing four (ish) energy sapping games. Both sides battled on for the full duration of the tournament without the luxury of any subs and the Wasps borrowing players to make up their numbers. The evening ended with Stafford Bees racking up an impressive four wins to earn twenty-six points and taking fifth position on the night. One place ahead in fourth were Stafford Wasps with three wins and one loss earning twenty-seven points. Despite strong performances the travelling county town sides slipped down the rankings by losing the available eight points for fielding female players.

A huge thanks to all Wasps & Bees players who played the full periods of all games. A special mention must go to Ben Arnold and Tim Hogan who made their senior debut for the travelling touch team, both adding tries to the sizeable total. Overall rankings, after two rounds, are to be confirmed due to a steward’s enquiry over the published results. But Stafford Bees are either joint first or joint second, with Stafford Wasps being either joint third or fourth.

Stafford Bees Team: Stafford Bees Team:

1. Gavin Hogan 1. Ben Arnold
2. James Brown 2. James Van Nijkerk
3. Joseph Powell 3. Malcolm Heath
4. Steve McLuckie 4. Megan Howe
5. Tim Hogan 5. Sam Robbins
6. Will Richards

The next round of the tournament is at Rugeley RUFC on Friday 13th July.