Men’s NTS and Women’s NTS wrap for 2023

The Men’s National Touch Series and Women’s National Touch Series 2023 titles were handed out in a sundrenched Banbury last weekend.

For the first time, a domestic club series was decided over the course of multiple weekends in a league format, with Divisions 1 and 2 having 40 minute games with the women having their round-robins spread over rounds 1 and 2, and the men playing their league matches on round 1 and then the knockout matches on round 2.

Both Divisions 1 and 2 in the Men’s competition had been very competitive in round 1, and as round 2 progressed there was more of the same.

Highlight of the day in Division 1 was a semi-final between NQ Rebels and Galaxy London which was one of the highest scoring games of the whole Series, Galaxy winning out 14-13.

This put them into a final against Old Wesley, who continued where they had left off both from round 1, but also 2022 as they beat Wigan Warriors in the quarter final, London Scorpions in the semi-final and then Galaxy in the final, although the two-try margin which separated the teams at the hooter was only created in the second half.

Division 2 headed to the far south-east and Canterbury Invicta, who overcame Manchester Foxes 10-8 in their final. Manchester’s tough day opener against Chester set them up on a run to the final, but they came up against a Canterbury outfit which had been in top form all day, beating Revolution and Nottingham in the knockout stages.

The Women’s finals were between the top and second-placed teams in both Divisions 1 and 2, with the women having had five round-robin matches compared to the Men’s three.

2022 had seen NQ Rebels and London Eagles share the spoils, and those two teams led the way once again to reach the Division 1 final.

This time there was a clear winner, Rebels coming out on top 9-5 to complete a perfect unbeaten campaign, with round-robin wins over London Scorpions, Nottingham, Cambridge and Galaxy London as well as the Eagles.

Division 2 also went with the form book, Wigan Warriors completing their own unbeaten run by beating Hot Custard in the most dramatic of fashions. Tied 5-5 at the end of a competitive and sometimes fractious 40 minutes, the game went into extra time. This, too, was tight, with neither team adding to their score. Until, with 3-v-3 beckoning, an interception from Wigan took them to the whitewash and lifting the silverware.

Division 3’s Women’s title went to London Vipers, who completed a treble of titles having won the Cup trophy in both rounds 1 and 2, which put them well clear at the top of the table. London Vipers have earned themselves promotion to Division 2, as have Bristol Jets, who finished second in the league table.

In the Men’s competition, Bristol Jets had beaten London Scorpions in the round 1 Cup, but when the Jets lost their semi-final to London Vipers and Scorpions won theirs against Horsham, it meant that if Scorpions won the capital derby they would clinch the crown. And so it was, although the 3-1 score reflected how competitive this competition has been, too. Bristol finished third, and by doing so confirmed their own promotion to Division 2 alongside Scorpions.

CLICK HERE to see the full standings

CLICK HERE to see pics from both events!