By Evie Casemore, Third Year, English Literature
With anticipation brewing for the final tournament of the season this weekend, UBTRC faced local competitors, Bath, in friendly games at Derby Day this Wednesday.
With clear blue skies, highs of 18°C and rays of spring sun beaming down all afternoon, the weather for Derby Day this year was certainly not what the University of Bristol of Touch Rugby Club had been used to playing in. With countless training sessions and recent tournaments having taken place in either freezing cold temperatures or pouring rain (and on one too many occasions, both!), the bright forecast seemed like a good omen, not only for the day ahead, but the weekend to come too. With the final University Touch Championship (UTC) taking place this weekend, UBTRC looked to use Derby Day to get in some final game-play practice before the tournament, and have some fun to celebrate another year of hard work.
Both Bath and Bristol mixed up their teams to ensure the day didn’t get too competitive, lest they risk competition-altering injuries as there had been in years prior. However, with the University of Bath’s Touch Rugby Club placing second last year across the entire championships, UBTRC knew they had to bring their A game to Derby Day – regardless of stakes!
With faces streaked with red paint, players warmed up and the five teams ready, the round robin format of games began with the sun still high in the sky at 1:30pm. Although Derby Day was certainly a smaller and less serious affair than the impending national championship, the organisation rivalled that of a typical touch rugby tournament. Spectators were able to watch teams battle it out in either of the two ongoing games while the remaining team rested, providing referees for the other teams’ games and touch rugby knowledge to any spectators who had not watched the sport before.
Although a small sport, and perhaps not having quite the same reputation or funding as other sports at the university, energy was buzzing and the games drew a sizeable crowd that only seemed to grow as the afternoon went on. With a mix of the intensity of the type of matches that take place at the championships, and the fun that touch rugby played in the sun usually brings to the pitch, the crowd certainly enjoyed watching the games (with pints in hand, of course).
Speaking to Libby Rowe, who was among the majority of the crowd whose first time it was watching touch rugby, it was clear that even though the sport was entirely unfamiliar, it made for an excellent watch. She commended Derby Day for giving students the opportunity to see lesser known or accessible sports played for the first time and said that touch rugby made for a great watch as it was ‘so fast paced and exciting to see the Bristol teams play’. As first team captain of the University of Bristol Netball Club, Miss Rowe, a keen sportswoman, noted particularly enjoying watching ‘the rolling subs and tactical play’ that UBTRC so adeptly displayed.
As the afternoon progressed, the games only got more exciting. The final match of the day saw Bristol and Bath mix it up with leavers and returners from both universities each forming a team together. Friendly competition turned into fun plays for this final game as the leavers team schemed to flood the pitch with all their players in the final minutes of the match, filling the pitch with players, smiles and laughter.
Of the five teams, the Bristol Barracudas came out on top, winning most of their games against both Bath and up against their other half, the Bristol Anacondas. But it was apparent that the club saw Derby Day more as a day of celebration than competition. Speaking on behalf of the club, President of UBTRC Georgina Uden said that she was ‘really proud of what we’ve achieved, especially this 25/26 season’. With Derby Day presenting the perfect opportunity to showcase the talent the club has built across the season, Uden noted that it was particularly special to see players who started as complete beginners develop into skilled athletes and be able to play with confidence in the matches this Wednesday.
While another season may be coming to a close for UBTRC, Derby Day appears to have been a perfect last hurrah at home for the club. Able to play in the sun, surrounded friends on and off the pitch, with a buzzing atmosphere, I have no doubt that they will carry the energy and winning spirit through to their final tournament in Nottingham this weekend.
Who do you think will emerge victorious at the final tournament next weekend?
Featured Image:Epigram Evie Casemore
