The Chargers win world’s biggest Tag Rugby Festival

By Phillip Browne
THE London Tag Rugby community can be extremely proud of Finsbury Park side, The Chargers who have come home with the 2012 Pig N Porter Tag Rugby champions trophy!

The Pig N Porter Tag Rugby Festival is the world’s biggest Tag Rugby tournament and for The Chargers to claim the title in their first attempt is a monumental achievement in which they can be very proud of!

The Chargers were drawn with the 2011 champions, the Bircroft Panthers from Dublin, in the pool and narrowly lost in their only defeat of the tournament. The Chargers stormed through the rest of the pool with some impressive victories and finished second of five to advance to the quarter finals.

They were drawn up against the tournament third seeds, The Wild Geese who won their pool and were made of Rugby 7s players. The Chargers were on their game with a convincing 12-0 defeat and sent a message to the other teams that they were a force to be reckoned with.

In the semi finals, The Chargers were up against second seeds, The Mighty Pie Eaters who knocked the Try Tag Rugby All-Stars out in the quarter finals. The Mighty Pie Eaters pushed The Chargers into extra time when scores were locked up 2-2. Paula Thorn scored in extra time to hand The Chargers a  rematch with the top seeds, the Bircroft Panthers in the Grand Final.

With The Chargers backs against the wall being down 2-0 with seven minutes to go in the final, they fought back like the champion side they are and managed to force the final into extra time with scores level at 2-2. With some brilliant defence from both sides it was proving tough to even make breaks but the elusiveness of Arron Lombardo sealed the match winner in fairytale style!

The other London teams, the Try Tag Rugby All-Stars (A grade) were knocked out in the quarter finals and the Try Tag Rugby All-Stars (C grade) also knocked out in the quarter finals 4-3 by Tag Me Maybe.

The next overseas tour departs on 30 August as the Try Tag Rugby All-Stars look to defend their title at the 2012 Malta International Tag Rugby Festival. All welcome to tour and details found at TryTagRugby.com

To register for a Try Tag Rugby competition or event, go to www.trytagrugby.com or email info@trytagrugby.com for more details.