Whitley Bay Rockcliff hosted their 18th Super 10s tournament, the first since 2019, in a new format with a men's and a women's competition running in parallel.
Played in beautiful spring weather the teams served up an entertaining afternoon of rugby in front of a good crowd.
Late withdrawals meant that six teams rather than eight played for the Men's Cup and Plate, whilst eight women's teams competed for their Cup and Plate trophies. Two groups in each competition played a round robin of games, and the winners of each group progressed to their respective Cup final and the runners up to their Plate final.
With the accent of the tournament being on social rugby and playing in the right spirit, North Shields, who took the Spirit of the Tournament award, were a few players short for their first competitive outing, so the other teams rallied round to lend them enough players to fulfil their fixtures.
In the women's competition, Ryton and Novocastrians dominated their groups. Ryton progressed to the Women's cup final after beating a combined Consett/Ponteland side, Guisborough, and Jarrovians. The latter three sides each won one game, but Consett/Ponteland progressed to the Plate final as they had the best points difference of the three equally placed teams.
In the other group Novocastrians beat a Barbarians side, North Shields (playing their first ever competition), and Rockcliff Roses en route to face Ryton. The Roses progressed to the Plate final after finishing runners up in their group. The Barbarian (Babas) were a side made up of volunteers from other competing clubs (mainly the Roses, who were resplendent in roman regalia) which was needed to balance the competition to eight teams.
In the men's group stage, Jarrovians beat Rockcliff and Consett to go though to the Cup final and Rockcliff defeated Consett to go into the Plate final. Gosforth similarly dominated their group, beating Rockcliff Rangers and Newcastle Ravens to set up the Cup final against Jarrovians. Rockcliff Rangers won their game against the Ravens to go through to an all Rockcliff plate final.
In the Plate finals Rockcliff Roses came out on top, beating Consett/Ponteland by 20 points to 10. Rockcliff Rangers prevailed in the men's final, beating fellow club mates Rockcliff 25 15.
The two Cup finals were well competed games. In the men's final Gosforth got off to a good start, scoring first, but Jarrovians battled back and dominated the closing stages of the game to win 17 10.
In a closely fought women's final, Novos came out on top by three tries to one, with the final score 17 7.
Players of the tournament were Ryton's Lottie Belton, a former Rockcliff U18 player, and Will Bate from Jarrovians.
Played in beautiful spring weather the teams served up an entertaining afternoon of rugby in front of a good crowd.
Late withdrawals meant that six teams rather than eight played for the Men's Cup and Plate, whilst eight women's teams competed for their Cup and Plate trophies. Two groups in each competition played a round robin of games, and the winners of each group progressed to their respective Cup final and the runners up to their Plate final.
With the accent of the tournament being on social rugby and playing in the right spirit, North Shields, who took the Spirit of the Tournament award, were a few players short for their first competitive outing, so the other teams rallied round to lend them enough players to fulfil their fixtures.
In the women's competition, Ryton and Novocastrians dominated their groups. Ryton progressed to the Women's cup final after beating a combined Consett/Ponteland side, Guisborough, and Jarrovians. The latter three sides each won one game, but Consett/Ponteland progressed to the Plate final as they had the best points difference of the three equally placed teams.
In the other group Novocastrians beat a Barbarians side, North Shields (playing their first ever competition), and Rockcliff Roses en route to face Ryton. The Roses progressed to the Plate final after finishing runners up in their group. The Barbarian (Babas) were a side made up of volunteers from other competing clubs (mainly the Roses, who were resplendent in roman regalia) which was needed to balance the competition to eight teams.
In the men's group stage, Jarrovians beat Rockcliff and Consett to go though to the Cup final and Rockcliff defeated Consett to go into the Plate final. Gosforth similarly dominated their group, beating Rockcliff Rangers and Newcastle Ravens to set up the Cup final against Jarrovians. Rockcliff Rangers won their game against the Ravens to go through to an all Rockcliff plate final.
In the Plate finals Rockcliff Roses came out on top, beating Consett/Ponteland by 20 points to 10. Rockcliff Rangers prevailed in the men's final, beating fellow club mates Rockcliff 25 15.
The two Cup finals were well competed games. In the men's final Gosforth got off to a good start, scoring first, but Jarrovians battled back and dominated the closing stages of the game to win 17 10.
In a closely fought women's final, Novos came out on top by three tries to one, with the final score 17 7.
Players of the tournament were Ryton's Lottie Belton, a former Rockcliff U18 player, and Will Bate from Jarrovians.
