2020/CW34 SwissCup - Round (3) 1
23.08.2020What was supposed to be the 3rd round of the Swiss Cup 2020 (but which was actually the 1st round played in 2020), took place in Luzern on Sunday 23 October 2020, on a day perfect for touch rugby.
Switzerland’s touch rugby community was clearly keen to get back out onto the pitch after lockdown as the tournament was the biggest Swiss Cup to date, with all 10 registered touch clubs in Switzerland represented and a total of 15 teams participating.
Luzern is only in its second season as a registered touch club but the facilities that they had to offer were first class, with 3 separate touch fields and all the other infrastructure necessary to cope with the scale of the tournament. The teams were divided into a Cup division, in which each team had to field three female players at all times, and a more relaxed Plate division. The Plate division was a new initiative, aimed at teams that prefer to play with an eye to development, and it was great to see so many clubs able to field teams in this division, including the excellent ‘’Zug Marmots’, all under 18 years of age and suggesting that Zug has a healthy touch future.
In the Cup division, Group A comprised of Touch Rugby Bern, Zug Cherry Pickers, Luzern Honey Badgers and RC Bagnes. Reigning champions, Touch Rugby Bern, went through top of the group but not without a scare against Zug (2-2 at half time) and a touch second half against Luzern. Luzern Honey Badgers came second on try difference, after a 3-3 draw against Zug in the opening match, and RC Bagnes continued to show significant improvement (and a fancy new kit!) in only their second Swiss Cup tournament. In Group B, a rejuvenated Geezers Touch topped the group, largely thanks to a Basel team, hugely improved from 2019, drawing with their main rivals in the group, ERL Lakers, and Geneva Switzers came a close 4th, having suffered some important last minute withdrawals from their squad. In the knock-out phase, Zurich went through to the Final after beating Luzern with some ease, to be joined by Bern who also dominated their semi-final against ERL Lakers. So to the Final, what a game, thrilling and close. A real end to end encounter with the Geezers and Bern trading scores, neither team able to establish a commanding lead. A really exciting game which went down to the wire with Geezers running out 6-5 winners. Both MVP’s coming from the winning side, well done Marie Sieghold and Chris Goddard, Marie also being the top scoring female on the day. In the other placing matches, ERL Lakers beat Luzern to come 3rd, Basel beat Zug to come 5th and Geneva beat RC Bagnes to come 7th.
The Plate was a 6 team round-robin tournament, played in a great spirit and the improvement in the performances across the day was noticeable. Basel Banditos, 5th in last year’s standings, were the clear winners with Mischa Trost the top male try scorer over both competitions.
As the prizes were handed out and the sun set on a great day of touch rugby, thoughts started to turn to the next event on Saturday 26th September in Geneva and we look forward to seeing you there. But thanks must first go to the Luzern Honey Badgers, for all their efforts in hosting such a great tournament, and to the Swiss touch rugby community, which came together to make it such a fantastic event.
HONEY BADGERS |
CANCELED
CANCELED
4th Round Saturday September 26th, 2020 Geneva |
3rd ROUND |
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Thanks to the photographers: |
Peter Kaiser, Daniel Flury, John Barton, Roger Beck |
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ERL Lakers |