7 Aug 09

Aspire Defence Services Limited sponsored the Tidworth Summer Touch League (TSTL) played over a three week period during July.

A total of 40 ten minute games were played to find the two finalists – 1st Royal Horse Artillery (the Gunners) assured their place in the final by storming their way through in just two weeks and 2nd Royal Welsh who joined them at the end of the third week.

A late surge by 6th Battalion REME failed to get them to the final but pushed the ‘team of the tournament’, 215 Signals Squadron, to ensure their third place.  The Signals Squadron made light of the lack of rugby players in their ranks to put in some fantastic displays of rugby skills.

The final was a tight affair but with the Gunners lacking some of their Aussie contingent there was only going to be one winner, and the Welsh ran out 3-0 victors!

The winner’s cup and medals for the two finalists were donated by Aspire Defence Services Limited who ensured that the grounds were marked out to allow play.

Team	Played	Points
1 RHA	12	31
2 R WELSH	12	23
215 Sig Sqn	12	20
6 CS Bn REME	12	17
2 RTR	12	15
22 Engr Regt	12	15
KRH	12	13

Touch rugby refers to games derived from rugby football in which players do not tackle in the traditional, highly physical way, but instead touch their opponents using their hands on any part of the body, clothing, or the ball.  Touch rugby games are played as training activities for rugby league and rugby union, as safer variants of rugby and as an informal social sport.