Victory and the City

Posted by Nell Mead at 09:00 on 29 Mar 2011

Last week I took an afternoon off to join personal trainer extraordinaire Dave Thomas from The Foundry, who was playing for Citi Rugby in the Norton Rose City Scrum, a corporate touch rugby event held at the Honourable Artillery Company's grounds in Moorgate.  As Dave is more commonly known as "Hospital" Dave, I was attending in the role of his personal physiotherapist - despite being a touch tournament, he was apparently carted off by paramedics last year with a badly-sprained ankle.  Opting to minimise the risk, I taped the dodgy ankle firmly in place before I allowed him anywhere near the pitch!

The event did have a serious side - it's run for charity, plus I had the additional responsibility of fixing Dave and his team! - but was also a lot of fun, and the HAC is a fabulous venue.  Each team is "coached" by a member of the Harlequins team (many of whom have never played touch rugby) - and this year, Citi were coached by Quins' captain Chris Robshaw, pictured here with Dave.

After a slowish start, Citi hit their stride and Dave - with a freshly flexible back and hamstrings - performed a try-saving ankle-tap diving tackle to deny UBS a win.  Unfortunately, in doing so, he managed to face-plant into the sand around the try line, temporarily blinded himself, and had to come off; but the vital tackle had been made and there was no real damage to Dave (which, I confess, was a relief to his physio!)

In the semi-final, Citi played against last year's winners, JP Morgan.  A stalemate ensued, and at full time the score was 0-0.  Each team lost a player and they played 5 v 5 for a few minutes... still no score.  4 v 4... still no score.  The teams went down to 3 v 3 and suddenly the pitch looked much bigger.  Dave - on the left wing - received the ball at about the half way line.  Accelerating off his right foot, he sprinted left, and - throwing an outrageous dummy - scored in the corner.  Citi were in the final.

As Dave had to train some clients, we left at this point.  I'm not sure whether he was more sorry to leave before the final, or happy to leave on a high.  But a text message an hour later confirmed that Citi had won the final - with Will Myers as player of the tournament. Well done Citi!