JEWSON FLOODLIT 40s
Woodbridge lifted the inaugural Jewson Floodlit 40s Suffolk Vets Cup after beating Mersea Island Old Buoys 34-12 at Colchester RFC. Runners up were Sudbury Dinosaurs with Colchester Roman Ruins third. The midweek competition was piloted in Suffolk by Eastern Counties Rugby Union as a means to get players out of retirement and back onto the pitch for fun, social rugby.
Eastern Counties Community Rugby Chairman Andrew Sarek, who thought up the competitions explained: “Warwickshire had come up with a 20 minute each way format for an U21s tournament but I saw it as ideal for players over 35 to get back into the game. When I put the concept to clubs in Suffolk there was a terrific response and 9 teams agreed to take part.”
The competition saw eight teams get together at two floodlit venues once a month with two teams playing at 7:15pm and another two at 8:15pm. Points were awarded for winning, a draw or for losing by 7 points or less, but the referee also had two fair play points to award; both to one team, one to each team or none at all. There were also points deducted for yellow or red cards.
“We wanted Clubs and players to understand that the spirit the games were played in was as important than winning,” said Sarek “and it worked in that no cards were issued in the 60 games that were played.”
Woodbridge not only won the competition but they were also awarded the most Fair Play points over the season for the tremendous attitude they showed all season, always willing to lend the opposition players when they were short so that everyone could have a game.
With sponsorship from Jewson and Sportsmatch the Floodlit 40s format is being rolled out in the Midlands and eventually across the country by the RFU and its popularity should see more people getting involved in Rugby. “It is great for those who aren’t available to play on Saturdays or people who want to get back into Rugby without committing to a full 80 minute game, added Sarek, “and with the Rugby World Cup only a few months away we will inevitably see more people coming back to the game.”
