Thursday May 5th, saw the return of another much anticipated Season of IRFU Tag Rugby to Hamilton Park Strandhill, home to Sligo RFC. With this being the 5th consecutive year of Tag Rugby Tournaments at the Sligo Venue, the popularity of the game is prominent with yet another increase in the number of teams. With an additional six teams entering the leagues on last year, this Season is surely going to bring a great atmosphere to Strandhill. The rain stayed away for most of the evening, much to the happiness of all those taggers who braved it on the pitch and all the dedicated supporters on the sidelines. Three games kicked off at the first game time of 6.30pm, followed by a further five games at each of the following times of 7.15pm, 8.00pm and 8.45pm. One of the refs commented on the high standards of the teams this Season, with teams having improved vastly since last year.
The competition certainly kicked of with a blast with the Strandvestites taking on a new team from Ballina called the Rat Pack, this was to be a much anticipated game as the Strandvestites are one of the strongest teams in the league with many players having played tag for several years. With 6 female trys from the standvestites to 1 female try from the Rat pack it was an exciting game, but the Strandvestites took the win at 17 points to 5.
We saw a strong crowd take over the rugby club at 7.15pm as the next round of games kicked off. The regulars of Fairly Lively were up against last years runners up Guten Tag. This was also a very exciting game, with Fairly Lively having no subs they put up a strong game for 40mins. However Guten Tag took the lead with a win of 18 points to 14, having secured 4 female trys.
The 8.00pm games had a number of new teams entering the Tag field for the first time competing in the beginners league. The Socialites were up against the Stiefel Scrummers; with no subs for the Stiefel Scrummers it was always going to be a tough game. The Socialites took full advantage of their full panel and at half time took a good lead. As both teams are new to Tag Rugby the help of ref Gavin Foley explaining the laws quite clearly was much appreciated by each side. Although it was a tough game for both, the Socialites took a good win of 19 points to 10.
The final set of games began at 8.45pm; the new fifth pitch was certainly used to its full potential. Trickys Try Hards were up against Indecisive Tagstards. Trickys Try Hards pulled out all the tactics that they had learned and developed from last year and took a great win by 21 points to 5. At the same time another game was taking place between the Generals and Tagtastic. As both teams had played in previous seasons it was a very exhilarating game for both of the sides. But the Generals showed their strength by taking the win 11 points to 9.
Thankfully the sun stayed out just in time for the final whistle to be blown on the last of the evenings games. Crepes were available last night by Chez Phillipe, who is based in his cafe in the court yard on Teeling Street. There was also a selection of food on offer from the catering van of Percision Catering. Both Chez Phillipe and Percision Catering will be serving food to all the hunger taggers throughout the eleven weeks. Lee Munn on guitar supplied the entertainment in the clubhouse, this was generously sponsored by JAKO.
Please note:
Sligo Tag Rugby is an Over 18s Event.
Players are not permitted to wear any jewellery (including glasses)during the games.
All players must wear Tag Shorts.
Reminder of some RULES:
4.4 The marker must stand directly in front of the ruck ball. The marker and the defensive line can only move forward when the ball is touched/played by the scrum half. Sanction: penalty
5.8 An attacker may receive a pass behind their own try line or may run behind their own try line when in possession of the ball. If an attacker is tagged behind their own tryline, the attacking team shall restart play with a Drop-Kick from the centre of their tryline.
5.9 The srumhalf can pass or kick the ball with only one tag on as long as they do so immediately (one step) .
5.16 If the scrum half is not in position within 3 seconds of the ball being played at a ruck ball, a changeover will be awarded to the defending team. The Referee will determine the time period.
5.17 if the ball carrier executes a voluntary tag by deliberately playing a Ruck Ball with both tags intact, the defending team are award a penalty.
6 In open play the ball may only be kicked from hand and while it is on the ground or while it is in the air having hit the ground. Sanction :penalty
6.13 The Attacking team may kick the ball at any time while in possession. The ball must not go higher than the referees shoulders for a grubber kick.
6.19 if the ball is kicked and bounces in the field of play and crosses the receiving teams tryline they will receive a Changeover ten meters out from the tryline the centre of the field.
6.24 If a Grubber kick travels higher than 1.5 metre, a penalty will be awarded to the defending team at the place where the ball was kicked.
6.25 If the ball is kicked and it goes out of the field of play in the full, the receiving team will receive a changeover at the poing where the kick was taken.
The contact details for Sligo Tag: sligotag@gmail.com or join us on facebook/sligotag.
