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Oxford Bonfire Tournament Report & Results
Another brilliant Bonfire tournament has rounded-off the competitive touch year. Hosted by Oxford Touch, it was the biggest Bonfire tournie yet, with 12 teams travelling 100s of miles from Scotland (thanks Superhands!) and all over England to take part. It was great to see so many new faces and new teams (Portsmouth Destroyers, Loughborough Uni) mixed in with the more familiar (Galaxy, Cambridge, Manchester Chargers, Hot Custard, TV Vikings, Warwick Knights and Cranfield Uni).
So, the chilly 3rd Nov started off early for the Oxford lot with many of the players and non-players coming to help set up at the dark and cold time of 07:30. Thanks to everyone at Oxford for their efforts! The day’s uber-refs (enormous thanks Tom, Shane, Cece, Martin, Lance and Nige) and the other teams started to arrive over the next couple of hours and a prompt start was achieved – which everyone loved as the bitingly cold wind hadn’t dropped off. The morning was packed with intense pool stages, a series of 20 minute games - one on, one off - which saw some excellent matches, tough matches and mud-laden matches (on the quickly deteriorating Pitch 1). After an exhausting few hours for everyone (not least the refs), the table going into the knockout rounds looked like this:
| Position | Pool A | Pool B |
| 1 | Galaxy 1 | Manchester Chargers |
| 2 | Oxford | Hot Custard |
| 3 | TV Vikings | Cambridge |
| 4 | Superhands | Galaxy 2 |
| 5 | Warwick Knights | Loughborough Uni |
| 6 | Cranfield Uni | Portsmouth Destroyers |
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Cup runners up Custard on Hot form enroute to the final.[/caption]
After a very short break, allowing the good folk who were making sure the event ran smoothly (huge thanks Rich, Becky and Ian) time to write up results, we were in to the play-offs. The Bowl semi-finals saw Portsmouth beat Warwick 4-2, and new team Loughborough Uni win a very tight (4-3) drop-off against Cranfield Uni. Galaxy 2s beat TV Vikings 6-0 in the first Plate semi-final, and Cambridge overcame Superhands 6-3 in the second. The Cup semi-finals saw Hot Custard finish 4-3 up against Galaxy 1s and defending champions Manchester Chargers beat the tournament hosts 2-0.
The finals were set: first up, the Bowl final saw the two tournament newbies go head to head with southerners Portsmouth Destroyers facing the young and vocal Loughborough Uni team. Portsmouth Destroyers developed from strength to strength as the day progressed, consolidating after every match played and applying the lessons learned. This was a key factor in the Destroyers success as they overcame an earlier defeat at the hands of Loughborough in the pool stages to win a well-fought 4-0 Bowl final.
[caption id="attachment_4303" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Newcomers Portsmouth Destroyers win the Bowl trophy.[/caption]
Meanwhile over on pitch 2, the Plate final had two familiar teams on the pitch – Cambridge v Galaxy 2 – with a smattering of experienced and new players bearing the cold on each side. After the 20 mins the tight game finally went 4-3 in Cambridge’s favour.
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Cambridge Hornets - Plate Winners.[/caption]
With all other matches over, it was left for the Cup final to conclude the tournament. Manchester Chargers returned as defending champions following their victory in a tightly fought drop-off final in 2011. The team planning to usurp them were night-out stalwarts Hot Custard (HC). After playing HC in the groups stages, and drawing 2-2, an intense match ensued entertaining all those sticking-out in the cold, with lots of action and great runs.
Going 1-0 and then 2-0 up in the 1st half, Chargers were on a roll and working hard, however, HC came back strongly and the final score was 2-2, it was time for a drop off! HC had the tap off, after around 4/5 sets of line attack on the Chargers scoreline, HC scored. Following the HC score, the Chargers had the right to reply, and reply they did! A set play from the tap-off, saw Chargers touch down, to make it 3-3. The teams were 3v3 and energy was sapped from both squads. After numerous switches and umpteen A’s, Chargers found the line to be crowned 4-3 Winners.
[caption id="attachment_4305" align="alignleft" width="225"]
Cup Winners - Manchester Chargers![/caption]
With the games over there was nothing left to do but shower, eat and present the 'goldware'. Thanks so much to all who helped by organising their teams, providing the food, setting up, clearing up, running the day or in so many other ways (particularly our friends at GAB where we are lucky enough to host the occasion). A great time was had by all and we can't wait for Bonfire 2013!
For more photographs from the day access the following link: https://picasaweb.google.com/oxfordtouchphotos/Bonfire201202Knockout results:
| BOWL FINAL | Portsmouth Destroyers | 4 | Loughborough | 0 |
| PLATE FINAL | Cambridge Hornets | 4 | Galaxy 2 | 3 |
| CUP FINAL | Hot Custard | 2d.o. 3 | Manchester Chargers | 2d.o. 4 |