WEYMOUTH was the setting chosen to host the inaugural Royal Navy Beach Festival as part of the legacy for next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Storming the beach on a hot sunny day were teams representing 42 Cdo, HMNB Clyde, HMS Heron, HMNB Portsmouth, HMS Sultan, and two teams each from HMS Seahawk and HMS Triumph.
With each game lasting eight minutes, the format of the tournament was a five-a-side full-contact competition with rolling subs, and those subs were very much needed given the sheer pace and physicality of every match.
Played on two beach pitches, and watched by an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd, the teams demonstrated considerable skill, stamina and enthusiasm, which created some very competitive matches.
The 42 Cdo team overcame HMS Triumph ‘Rockets’ 6-2 in tries during the plate final. But the congratulations go to the festival champions, HMS Sultan, who defeated HMS Seahawk A 3-2 in tries in a close run final.
The festival was a huge success and plans for the Beach Festival in July 2015 are already well in place.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here