2023 Mixed NTS Round 1 wrap

There was a weekend packed with action at Burton RFC, as 50 Mixed teams headed to the north midlands to open up the Mixed National Touch Series.

Divisions 1 and 2 were on Saturday, with Divisions 3 and 4 on the Sunday, with plenty of trophies up for grabs as well as the league points that will decide the overall title.

Division 1 was as competitive as predicted. Galaxy London, London Scorpions, Nottingham Hoods and London Eagles 1 went through the group stages undefeated, but it was NQ Rebels who took home the first Cup title of the summer, exacting revenge over Scorpions for their round-robin defeat to win 4-1 when the trophy was on the line.

Scorpions had reached the final with one of the games of the day, beating the Hoods 8-7, having only beaten Cambridge Hornets 6-4 in the quarters.

NQ also had a two-try margin over London Eagles 1, before beating Wigan Warriors 5-2 in the semis.

Galaxy bowed out of the Cup with a 5-6 loss to Wigan in the quarters. But they shrugged this off to come out on top in the Plate, beating Raptors 3-2 in the final.

The Bowl headed to the north west courtesy of Manchester Foxes’ 3-2 win over Oxford, while Revolution overcame London Eagles 2 5-1 in the Shield.

The Division 2 Cup final was another thriller, Canterbury following up their Division 2 Men’s NTS success a fortnight ago by beating Nottingham Mavericks 4-3 in the Cup final. And London Vipers showed their continued progression by taking home the Plate.

On Sunday it was the turn of Divisions 3 and 4 to take over the site.

The depth and growth of Touch in England was demonstrated by the number of second or third teams put in by established clubs – 12 in total – and four teams from as far afield as Manchester, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Staffordshire making their debut in the Mixed NTS.

Cheltenham 2 came out on top in the Division 3 Cup, with Nottingham Outlaws winning the Plate, Bedford the Bowl and Northampton the Shield.

Division 4’s trophies also went to established names, London Scorpions 2 winning the Cup and London Vipers 2 the Plate.