Review of the second WR5s and 3v3 League weekend

Premiership

After Leicester Tigers’ first round continued domination of the WR5s Premiership, you would have been forgiven for thinking it was business as usual, with the Tigers going on to win the division at a canter. However, with the Tigers star man, Tom Folwell, only able to assist in a coaching role due to an injury, it was not business as usual for the side from the east midlands.

The Tigers first game was against a bolster Hawks side who brought back Invictus silver medallist Vicki Bloor Ross and big player, big personality, Jonny Ionica Chiaburu to the team. This meant the Hawks were just too strong for the Tigers ending their 1156-day unbeaten run in the WR5s Premiership. However, with Tom due back to full fitness in time for the final weekend, and despite two loses, the Tigers are still top of the table and this race is certainly not over yet.

The West Country Hawks went unbeaten this weekend in the Premiership for the first time. Led by player-coach and newest GB squad player, Luke Collier, the Hawks were just too strong on the day.

Northampton Saints improved upon their third-place finish last time out, with some great play and very consistent results they manged to finish second. The Saints welcomed back their star player, Danny Dawoud, who was recently appointed head coach of the Swedish national team and secured all three points in a close derby match against local rivals Leicester Tigers.

With the top three teams only separated by two points, the race for the title and a chance to qualify to play in the Polish Cup, is wide open.

All the results for the second weekend can be found here.

Championship

The Bournemouth Lions continued where they left off from the previous tournament, extending their unbeaten run to six games and are now eight points clear at the top of the Championship table. After a strong start, the Barbarians pushed the Lions closest on Sunday, with a final score in that match 28 – 24.

The closest game of the day saw Coventry Stampede just pip Team Solent Sharks by one point to take the win. Stampede’s second game was also close, but this time the team from the midlands were just beaten by the Berkshire Banshees and finished the day in third position in the overall league standings.

In contrast, the Berkshire Banshees had a very strong second tournament making it to the final play off unbeaten, and only just losing out on taking the top spot on the day to the Lions. The strong performances came in the absence of the Banshees head coach Ben Sycha and long serving player Sally Sycha. Even without the noticeable absentees, the Banshees played well and should be happy with their second-place finish and are looking to build come the final weekend.

All the results for the second weekend can be found here.

League One

Only five teams made it to the second event, with the Dragons having to pull out. the Help for Heroes team, coached by Leicester Tigers player Tom Folwell in the absence of head coach Paul Jenkins, carried on the winning ways and secured another unbeaten tournament, extending their lead to six points at the top of the table.

The Penrith Pumas added long time player and talent pathway player, Josh Tudge to their squad, and Josh made an instant impact on the Pumas’ side, helping them to 4 wins out of 5, only going down to H4H in their last game of the day.

After having a really strong first tournament finishing second, Crawley Jets were close to securing second place again, but with a fantastic overtime golden try win, the Pumas just edged them into third place on the day. The Jets however, still hang onto second place overall.

All the results for the second weekend can be found here.

3v3

The West Country Hawks looked set to continue their good form in the new three-v-three discipline, continuing their unbeaten record from the first tournament. The Hawks boosted their hopes by bringing the talent pathway player Gemma Lumsdain and long serving Hawks player Victoria Smedley into their squad. The Ospreys also added to their squad with the Yorkshire Lions player Daniel Wade. This addition had the intended impact, and denied Hawks a second clean sweep, as the Ospreys just managed to clinch a one-point win over the team from the southwest.

Team Solent Sharks had a good day in the three-v-three league, eventually finishing second on the day, and moving up to second on the overall leader board. It could have been a clean sweep for the Sharks, as they pushed the Hawks all the way in their game just losing by two points in the end, 13-15.

Canterbury Hellfire were unable to make it this weekend due to an injury to a key player. However, their player David Stokes did make the long trip to Stoke Mandeville Stadium and helped out a number of teams throughout the day, including the Mavericks. We look forward to seeing Hellfire back on court in the final round next month.

Stoke Mandeville Maulers put in a brave effort throughout the day, considering their player coach Sam Dickenson was not available. Led valiantly by Neville Davis, the team were playing with just three players and under pointed for the whole day. In the final standings Maulers moved up to fourth position, but with their sights firmly on moving further up the table.

It was a great weekend of rugby, with some very close games and high level of competition. The final round for the 3v3 and WR5s leagues will be played on 21 and 22 August at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

And finally, an opportunity to highlight the special community that makes up wheelchair rugby. Stoke Mandeville Maulers club Chairperson, Ian Hosking, was on holiday in Gloucestershire, when he found himself with two flat tyres. Having only one spare innertube he posted for help on Facebook. Low point GB squad player, Luke Wilson, who was about to leave for the World Games in Alabama answered Ian’s request for help and delivered a new innertube to Ian. Great effort Luke and nice to see the rugby community helping out a fellow player.

All the results for the second weekend can be found here.

If you are interested in getting involved in either three-v-three or wheelchair rugby fives, please do not hesitate to contact Adam Simmons adam.simmons@gbwr.org.uk