LIONHEARTS ROMP HOME !
This years Exeter Festival was a sell-out both days with teams travelling from the likes of Leicester, Stroud, London, Hayle and Cardiff.
The weekend started Saturday mid-day with the FUN 4's. 40 teams took part with handicaps applied to each team dependant on playing experience.
Totnes Hoppers just edged out the Exe Eagles of Wonford to win their pool and qualify for the Cup. They were joined by London Lionhearts, The flying muppetts (Stroud), Great Pretenders (Torexe), Well errr (Wanderers), Yeovil Woods A and Taunton B, with Mean Marauders (Ottery) also making it as best runner-up.
Cup : London Lionhearts, Flying Muppetts and Well errr ended up in a three-way tie in their semi final pool and could only be separated on the basis of points scored. As a result, Lionhearts made it through by the narrowest of margins. In the final they faced 4 Hoppers who saw off Great Pretenders, Yeovil Woods and Mean Marauders. Lionhearts won the final with a dashing 35-23 scoreline and so walked off with the trophies, volleyballs and champagne !
Plate : Teams not making it to the Cup fought it out for their respective pools. The lucky prize winners included You're right chet (Wanderers), Day Trippers (Wimbledon), Keener Weeners (Stroud), Anticipate (Exeter), The Hamsters (Wanderers), Les Barjots (London), Safe Sets (Wimbledon) and Matts Angels (Torexe). Panthers 4 (Leicester) took the prize for top juniors.
Party : At the evening party teams were entertained by local rock band Cover'd and DJ, and during the annual awards presentation, prize winners Stroud Keener Weeners provided further entertainment in the form of their very own rendition of the Full Monty, with only their treasured firemen's helmets to save the blushes !
Sundays Coaver Open saw 60 teams competing on Coaver lawn despite the ravages of the previous nights party.
In the morning pools Taunton lost to Lipson but still managed to top their group thanks to a 23-16 win over closest rivals Torexe Breezers. Zymurgy remained unbeaten and were joined by London Lionheart Ladies who finished runners-up. Meanwhile the Lionheart men kept their unbeaten run going thanks to a 21-20 win over Exeter University, but the Uni also just made it into the cup as one of the best runners-up. Stroud Rooty Hoofers, Exeter Spartans and Barry Bullfrogs won their respective pools to join the cup elite.
Cup : The Spartans team were re-formed for one-day only (after a 4 year break) and continued their good form with another 1005 record of wins in their semi final pool. They beat Taunton, Lionheart men and lionheart ladies to reach the final. In the final they faced Exeter University who won through after beating Barry Bullfrogs, Rooty Hoofers and Zymurgy. In the final the University took an early lead with youth working well against the flagging Spartans middle-aged spread. Spartans kept with it but it was just one game too many and the tired legs had to make do with second spot.
Plate : All other teams progressed to the plate and in the plate pools it was Torexe Tornadoes and Breezers, Wonford Panthers and Betablockers, Yeovil Woods, Wanderers Jacks, Wanderers Vikings and Wanderers A who made it through to the Plate Quarter final stages. Panthers beat Tornadoes and Breezers beat Yeovil to reach a semi final play-off where Breezers ran out 27-17 winners. In the other half of the draw Wanderers A beat Betablockers and Vikings beat fellow team-mates Jacks to see an all-Wanderers semi-final which the A team won 29-19. They then went on to dominate a hard-fought final and took the Plate with Breezers finishing runners-up.
Juniors - Under 12's : Panthers 3 from President Kennedy School (Leicester) held onto an unbeaten record in the pools and overcame Pinhoe Pirates who finished runners-up. In the Under 14's Panthers 4 and Kings A won their respective pools to earn a place in the semi's where they faced runners-up Kings B and Panthers 5. In the end it was Kings B and Panthers 4 who reached the final and Kings edged it to take the title. In the Under 16/18's event it was Kings U18's who finished overall winners with only one defeat at the hands of Kings U16's A (16-25) to spoil an otherwise perfect record. Kings U16's A finished second, Kings U16's B were third and Devizes A finished 4th.
Congratulations to the successful teams and thanks to all those who came, helped set-up, participated, partied or bought me a beer !
Martin Oram
For 2003 Pickies click here
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