The 'Sandy Season' commenced last weekend as the Causeway coast in Ulster was alive with the buzz of Bud Light Beach Tag. Portstewart made its debut as a Bud Light Beach Tag location and what a debut it was!
The 'Sandy Season' commenced last weekend as the Causeway coast in Ulster was alive with the buzz of Bud Light Beach Tag. Portstewart made its debut as a Bud Light Beach Tag location and what a debut it was!
The Bud Light Beach Tag season got off to a flyer of a start with the first event taking place at beautiful Portstewart Strand on Saturday.
The Bud Light Beach Tag season got off to a flyer of a start with the first event taking place at beautiful Portstewart Strand on Saturday.
With warm weather, top tunes and a great atmosphere, all the games contested were played in superb spirits, causing many onlookers on this busy beach to set up and stay for the duration of the games as enthusiastic spectators along the promenade.
During the course of the day, 20 teams battled it out on the fine white sand in four groups which finished as shown below.
Each of the first four placed teams in a league played their counterparts in semi-finals with winners qualifying for their final.
| Group A | P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| Killerwatts | 4 | 4 | 26 | 18 | 8 | 8 | ||
| Transformers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 43 | 13 | 30 | 6 | |
| Hands Like Feet | 4 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 4 | |
| Dynamic Hips | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 27 | -15 | 1 | |
| Deep Heat | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 24 | -18 | 1 | |
| Group B | P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| Mengal | 4 | 3 | 1 | 41 | 19 | 22 | 6 | |
| Cant Think of a Name | 4 | 3 | 1 | 35 | 16 | 19 | 6 | |
| El Diablos | 4 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 6 | |
| Tubbie's Revenge | 4 | 1 | 3 | 30 | 31 | -1 | 2 | |
| Gold Standard | 4 | 4 | 5 | 48 | -43 | 0 | ||
| Group C | P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| Jocksons | 4 | 4 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 8 | ||
| Sun, Sea & Sandy Balls | 4 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 17 | 15 | 6 | |
| UUC FC | 4 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 4 | |
| The Crew | 4 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 2 | |
| Angry Wizards | 4 | 4 | 11 | 32 | -21 | 0 | ||
| Group D | P | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| Pumas | 4 | 4 | 51 | 15 | 36 | 8 | ||
| Tagging Tigers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 37 | 16 | 21 | 6 | |
| PWC | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 30 | -12 | 2 | |
| Locksley Legends | 4 | 4 | 2 | 54 | -52 | 0 | ||
| Babas | 4 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 36 | 5 | 4 |
In the Group 4 final, 'Dynamic Hips' pipped 'The Crew' for the title, while in the Group 3 final, 'UUC FC', in their first ever tag event, lost out to 'Hands Like Feet'.
Group 2's spoils were snapped up by Tagging Tigers in defeating 'Still Can't Think of a Name', while over on pitch 1 'Mengal' edged out 'Pumas' for the Group 1 winners' trophy.
Everybody then got spruced up for the evening ahead which, courtesy of The Anchor Bar, involved some very welcome food, a great bar and music.
Commiserations, congratulations and many thanks to all who took part with also a special mention to everybody from the National Trust Portstewart and the staff of The Anchor Bar for all their help.
Beach Tag, 5-a-side form of Tag rugby is played by mixed teams of men and women and a very popular break away for all who take part, whether as players or spectators.
The first ten teams to register for any Bud Light Beach Tag event will win themselves ten tickets to the first rugby match to take place at the Aviva Stadium -'The O2 Challenge' on Saturday, July 31 (kick-off 2.30pm).
The first ten teams to register for any Bud Light Beach Tag event will win themselves ten tickets to the first rugby match to take place at the Aviva Stadium -'The O2 Challenge' on Saturday, July 31 (kick-off 2.30pm).
There are now three more Bud Light Beach events to go.
Saturday, July 3: Muiríoch Beach, Dingle, County Kerry
Saturday, July 17: Enniscrone Beach, County Sligo
Saturday, August 14: Curracloe Beach, County Wexford
Saturday, July 17: Enniscrone Beach, County Sligo
Saturday, August 14: Curracloe Beach, County Wexford
To see photos from Portstewart in our Gallery section, please visit here . . .
Click here for more information and to register your team.
Click here for more information and to register your team.
All queries may be directed to tag@irishrugby.ie