There’ll be no training this coming Thursday, due to the 13 Chargers who made the England (and Welsh) Elite squads heading over to Dublin to play in the Home Nations 2013 competition.
Keep track of them all on the links below…

Ben Powell (MO)
Simon Whitnall (MO)
http://internationaltouch.org/home-nations-2013/fixtures-results/mens-open/england/

Chloe Llewellyn (MXO)
http://internationaltouch.org/home-nations-2013/fixtures-results/mixed-open/wales/

Morgan Ogle (WO)
Pam Tomlinson (WO)
Sarah Acheson (WO)
http://internationaltouch.org/home-nations-2013/fixtures-results/womens-open/england/

Cathy Spencer (W27)
Julie Walker (W27)
http://internationaltouch.org/home-nations-2013/fixtures-results/womens-27/england/

Gregg Cropper (MX30)
Jonny Acheson (MX30)
Leanne Simm (MX30)
Beckie Yousefian (MX30)
http://internationaltouch.org/home-nations-2013/fixtures-results/senior-mixed/england/

Terry Careswell (M40)
http://internationaltouch.org/home-nations-2013/fixtures-results/mens-40/england/

Good luck everyone!

Lost 5-2 against Barebacks

Lost 2-1 to Bristol Fijians

Not a great start to the day, bottom of the group and time to have a stern word!!

Knockouts:

Next up: Scorpions. A team full off England’s Men’s opens players, who are yet to hit form… This could be interesting!
Won 5-1 against London Scorpions… I think. #multitasking #lions

Shield Semi Finals

Phoenix Touch.

After a great team performance, full time score was 4 all… we went to drop off.

No score by either team, the time ticked on and we went down to 3 v 3. Finally losing  5-4 in the Drop-Off (down to 3 v 3)

We scraped in to the top 8, with one round to go before the finals!

Onwards and upwards..

Congrats to all the Chargers making the England Touch elite squads for the upcoming Home Nations.

1. Ben Powell (MO)
2. Simon Whitnall (MO)
3. Morgan Ogle (WO)
4. Pam Tomlinson (WO)
5. Sarah Acheson (WO)
6. Cathy Spencer (W27)
7. Julie Walker (W27)
8. Gregg Cropper (MX30)
9. Jonny Acheson (MX30)
10. Leanne Simm (MX30)
11. Beckie Yousefian (MX30)
12. Terry Careswell (M40)

We pulled together a bit of a last minute team for Newcastle CTS. We had our local Geordie Den on board and she was boasting on the Norths great beaches, the kindest people on the planet and assured everyone the fog was just a myth. After an early start from Manchester the team arrived to a very wet and cold Newcastle. However the Percy park pirates put on an incredible welcome including free bacon butties for everyone to soften the blow of the bad weather. After a quick briefing everyone was in good spirits and being able to shelter in the stands helped keep us dry.

Pool games.

Chargers V Glasgow

A great game to start the day. Glasgow showed off some good moves but we were able to use the game to get used to playing with each other. Charger Win 4-2

Ben was even showing off his chargers coloured physio tape. #committedLAD

Chargers V Nottingham

The rain really started bouncing during this match and no one could feel their fingers very well. Charger Win 2-0

(Check out Scotty in the background, cowering as the rain lashing against him, whilst Zack just gets on with the job in hand! Soft Aussie!?)

Chargers V Meerkats

This was our hardest matches during the early rounds. There was one amazing try from Yarrow. The dive which was subsequently named “the eagle” worked a treat to score on the wing. (Have you spotted Denise has written this article, yet?) Chargers lost 0-1.

Knockout rounds

Chargers V CSSC Wookies

Wookies were a well drilled team and played well against a tiring Chargers side… The lack of subs was beginning to take its toll. Chargers went down, 1-4.

Chargers V Galaxy

We played better in this game than our previous, so we came away happier with our performance. Chargers stomped home with a 5-1 win.

Plate Final

Chargers V Wigan 

The fog on the tyne had started to drift in and the pitches were looking gloomy. We had a good game against a fast and young Wigan side, but lost 2-4 by the final whistle.

All in all a great day up north. Percy Park Pirates put on a great day including a treasure chest full of sweets to help raise the sugar levels, tea to warm up, great pitches and a awesome post tourney curry. The north east needs to order better weather next time however our spirits were lifted when we were told it was also raining in Paris… albeit it Champagne!

See you all in Halton!

BOYS

Ben Powell
Gregg Cropper
Jon Walton
Jonny Acheson
Phil Heselwood
Simon Whitnall

GIRLS:

Beckie Yousefian
Julie Walker
Leanne Simm
Pam Tomlinson
Sarah Acheson

Groups

Back Row (L>R) Pamela ‘Pins’ Teaglinson, Jules Walker, Beckie Yousefian, Julia ‘Margo’ Kang, Tamsin ‘Gigantor’ Reed
Front Row (L>R) Alistair ‘Bourne’ Teaglinson, Travis Kenny, Gregg Cropper, Simon Whitnall, Jon ‘Ozzie’ Walton.

After a few last minute team list changes and some imported guest appearances, Chargers headed to Gay Paree, in search of fun, adventure and a shiny new piece of silverware for their cabinet.

Day 1&2 consisted of lots of sightseeing, instagramming/hashtagging and general fun ticking off life’s bucket list in the Capital, before we got our heads down ready for the main event… Gif 2013.

We were an unseeded team, due to it being our 1st outing to Gif, and we were drawn in a pool consisting of:

• Arrows Touch Nantes (France) – A team on their home soil
• London Galaxy (England) – 2011 Winners and NTS top seed.
• Amsterdam XXX (Holland) – 2012 6^th Place

We won our 1st game, comfortably, with a 7-3 defeat of the Arrows. Cropper taking a hatrick, with Yousefian, Kenny, Teager and Whitnall also adding to the tally on the score sheet. A great start to the day! Trav’s warm-up playlist/moves were the key behind our good start!

Next up was London Galaxy, where we went down, 6-1, this match had a heart stopping moment where the brave Ozzie broke his leg (well, for 10 mins anyway).

Final pool game was Amsterdam XXX, a team of mainly expats, who came 6th in last years comp.
Their tap-off move (which we will be blatantly stealing!) had them up by 3, in no time at all. We had plenty of territory and possession, but didn’t take our chances enough! We fought hard and clawed back a couple of scores, but went down 3-5.

Knockout stages
Quarter Finals

With the random allocations, we were again drawn against the XXX team, this time we had a score to settle!
We were due to play on the AstroTurf and hence a couple of players sat out, due to knee injuries. Trav displaying his astro war wounds was battling on hard like a real trooper!

Kang scored with a run that cut through the defence even taking her by surprise. We won, on/after the hooter, in a controversial finish to a great game. Despite his inability to bend down due to his sore hammys, Simon ‘Sorry I didn’t pass to you’ Whitehall, clinched the final score.

Semi Finals

Next up was Courant d´R from Paris (which we had/have no idea how to pronounce!), last year’s plate finalists.A well-drilled team, pacy team with some crazy defensive policies, gave us a great run for our money. We had a strong defensive game against the speed of the French side with our girl links putting in a great shift to shut down and chase out on the monsieurs trying gas them.. We fought hard and took a well-deserved victory of 4-3. We also realised that our girls would be key as they were driving hard, hitting the holes, and chatting well (standard).

Finals

We were drawn against: Bareback Riders – The 2012 Cup Winners, who came here to win! After they beat our Northern friends (Wigan Touch) in the semi final drop-off, it was our time to shine. #GoOnTheNorth

This was another great head-to-head as we continue to try and progress; BBR have always been a tricky side for us but season by season we seem to be getting there. Could we make it two wins in two weeks?

With a long delay between play, and a visit to the booze shop, the team were feeling the stresses of the day and as the rain came down the temptation to run out on to the show pitch had lessened. The team dragged themselves out on to the pitch, their bodies bruised and sore, to prepare for their task ahead. BBR were still in the stand, psyched by the thought of facing the mighty chargers and keeping warm in their Glee-esque letterman jackets (we are actually jealous of these).

Suddenly as the whistle started the game, the players began to wake. With a couple of set moves, straight off the training ground, the Cropper/Ozzie combo worked a treat  in the middle, the team drove hard and played with passion and intensity. Teags and Walton appeared regularly for hard-driving cameos… followed by selflessly subbing themselves off immediately after. Our handling and composure was great throughout the day too, but during the final our low error rate proved vital  We felt good, and some early scores put us ahead by three coming into the last five minutes. BBR pulled one back after some concerted pressure on our line, and then it was about keeping our heads, and waiting for Fergie time to elapse! The final whistle came and we came out Plate Winners, 3-1. Champagne popping ensued!

As the comp progressed, we had to change our approach; the early games allowed us space in the middle and so the boys took full advantage, but as the opponents got tougher, the boys were finding less space , but we knew our girls would be in space and shouting (loud) for the ball. Some really good pluses from the weekend, some big wins, lots of character, and increasing ability to interchange positions without fear or loss of momentum. A really great tournament, with the Plate won by a bunch of Wallies.

The After Party

As we headed back for showers, the love birds of the team (The Teaglinsons) headed off for a romantic break in the Capital. Whereas the party animals amongst us were prepping for the next major part of the day: Fancy dress… Travis’ favourite bit of the day, so much so he won the ‘best dressed Wally’ based purely for the effort he put in to his outfit with his handcrafted bobble hat and scarf.

     
There are numerous stories to be told, including:

• The search party sent to find Si/Ozzie at McDonalds,
• Benny Powell getting left behind in Manchester airport, but still managing to get lost at the after party,
• Simons epic falling out of bed…
• Teager playing a whole tournament… and then saving enough energy to fight crime in Paris, in a Jason Bourne stylee.

However, whatever goes on tour, stays on tour/facebook!

Quote of the day ‘You’re under Wally Arrest!’ totally outta the blue from the silent assassin.

Thanks to the hosts TR91, (and also Touch France), to all the referees for the day, plus all the teams for making it a great weekend.

Catch you next year, Gif!

Group stages
6-0 Win against Galaxy II
Lost 5-2 to Durka (Eventual NTS Winners)
5-2 Win Vs Thames Valley Vikings

We ended up 2nd in group, with a top 8 placing guaranteed. First goal achieved.

Knockout rounds
8-1 loss against Galaxy.
It was time to re-group and some harsh words before the next stage.

Next up, where some of our NW Blades counterparts, and we had a score to settle from our defeat in round 1. We played with some great intensity and focus.

We went on to beat Bareback Riders 3-2, a much better reflection than our performance in NTS 1.

a forlorn rider…

Plate Final
Tired, aching bodies, and a player down, we were drawn against Phoenix where we lost 5-3.

A good day overall and some things to work on prior to the next round.

We finished 6th and after doing a quick count up, are still top seeds going into round 3, in Cambridge.

BOYS

Ben Powell
Phil Heselwood (C)
Zack Romanu
Scott Symons
Mike Murray
Terry Careswell

GIRLS:

Carly Heselwood
Morgan Ogle 
Denise Yarrow

Good luck to the Manchester Chargers Touch team! #GoHardOrGoHome