The first week nerves were well gone and the competitive streaks within had no hiding places anymore.
Once again Oak park was covered in sunlight and with reports that a possible heat wave was on the way spirits were high on Thursday night. To top it off there was the added excitement of watching tag on TV as Greg and Claire from Hedgehog productions were interviewing and filming the Taggers and getting a sense of the atmosphere at Oak park. Anyone who would like to see what tag looks like on the screen can tune into Sky Channel 191 at 8pm on Wednesday the 25th of June.
In Division 1 the competition is always tense and no more so than when the Nexus all Blacks took on the The Courthouse cruisers. Paul Cullen’s Nexus all blacks always start the match with a high intensity that overwhelms the opposition. But the Courthouse Cruisers were more than a match and by half time they were 7 ahead with a 9-2 advantage. Nexus were not going to take this lying down and went into first gear with 4 tries from Paul Cullen and a try from Elaine Ware. But it was the last score of the game when both teams had been level at 11-11 that sealed it a knock on from Nexus provided the cruisers with a try to a 12-11 victory.
Gillespie’s Supervalu Globetrotters took on the injured Barry Murphy’s Amazeballs Avenue. With Barry moving into a coaching role and subsequently acquiring the skills and talent of Mark Elmes and Danny Ruddock, Division 1 looked a very comfortable place for the Amazeballs. Kieran Cahill of the Gillespies had come from a week of celebration after drawing with Scraggs sharks last week. There was 2 points in it at half time with the Gothams scoring some great tries from Kenny P. Maguire, Louise Conville and two 3 pointers from Niav cahill. But it was Barry Murphys new re-energised Amazeballs that won the day with a close 18-20 victory.
In division 2 O’ Flaherty Brown Legal eagles took on The Buckley Clarke flirties. This game was always going to be tight. The Flirties took the initiative and soon had the first 3 pointer on the scoreboard the Legal eagles responded with matched tries but alas they were only 1 pointers. By half time Adrien Bolger’s team had scored 3 girl tries to give them 9 points. Score from Ian Ammond, Shannon Brown and Keith Pollard slowly began to dent the defence of the Flirties. The loss of Rosie Byrne for the Legal Eagles was evident. Though they held a great defence only letting one point cross their defence in the second half but it was the lack of female tries that left the Eagles with a 10-7 loss.
The KCLR Fluffy Radios in contrast had come from a heavy defeat from the Legal Eagles last week and were not prepared to take another week lying down. They came out flying against Tullys Tubbies. Tullys had played a cracker the week before against the Flirties. Stephen Byrnes Fluffies came out on fire with Ahoe Blomfield leading the charge, Some great handling skills and a very fast pace took the Tubbies by surprise. The Tubbies were not going to take this lying down and fought hard against the Fluffies and always managed to stay within a few points of the Radios. It was so close at the end with three points in it for the Fluffies but a kick downfield from the Tubbies gave them the opportunity to score a girl try and draw the game at 15-15 a piece.
In division 3 McFoods inbetweeners are ripping up the division Jason Byrne’s team look to be the team to beat.
Castlegarden Cobras might have won the quiz last week but that unfortunately seems to be were the winning ended. Jenny Devaney, Niall o Malley and Andy Butler all scored for the Cobras but as Andy the captain said ” We were eaten by Mc Foods” and the scoreline of 21-7 doesn’t lie.
Dolmen divas took on The MSD Vikings. The Divas dearly wanted a victory this week. Amy Doyle and Graham Hutton scored in the first half for the Divas to give a 7-7 score walking into the break. Graham Hutton briefly put the Divas into the lead at 8-7 but the MSD Vikings must put something in the water for their team and it was a surge of two girl tries from the Vikingettes that sealed the Divas fate with a 14-8 victory.
It has been a close tournament up to now. Next week it’s not only the weather that hots up. The annual treasure hunt takes place after tag on FRIDAY. This involves some cryptic clues hidden around the town and some visits to local hostelries and a final party in Scraggs.
