Mens NTS and Womens NTS 2024 Round 1 round-up

Here's your round-up of results from the opening weekend of action in the Mens National Touch Series and Womens National Touch Series in Watford.

Division 1

In the Women's competition London Scorpions and Galaxy London have set the early pace, with both clubs winning all their matches in Pools A and B respectively. Scorpions had decent margins against NQ Rebels (6-3), Cambridge (11-2) and Revolution (16-2), but while Galaxy had similar results against Nottingham Hoods (5-2) and Cheltenham (15-0) they were pushed all the way by London Eagles, only winning that 6-5.

The Womens competition moves straight into the knockout stages in Royal Leamington Spa on May 18th, with the quarter finals seeing Scorpions play Cheltenham, Nottingham have a Midlands derby with Cambridge, Galaxy taking on Revolution and NQ Rebels going head-to-head with London Eagles.

On the Mens side of things, Nottingham Hoods came out on top in Pool D, beating Old Wesley (12-5), London Eagles 1 (11-7) and Invicta (14-8). Meanwhile London Scorpions overcame Galaxy London (11-9), Manchester Foxes (14-5) and Cambridge (13-4) on their way to finishing first in Pool E.

As with the Women, Nottingham and Cambridge renew their local rivalry in the quarter finals, with Galaxy London playing Old Wesley, London Scorpions facing Invicta and London Eagles 1 taking on Manchester Foxes.

Division 2

Womens Division 2 is finely poised after Day 1. Bristol Jets are the only undefeated team having beaten Oxford (3-0), Nottingham Trent University (6-1) and Old Wesley (7-4). But behind them there is all to play for in the chase for the all-important top two spots.

London Vipers and Old Wesley are tied on nine points each, with Nottingham Trent and Oxford both on six. Day 2 has two more rounds of pool matches before the top two teams face each other in the Division final, and with four points on offer for a win there is everything still to play for!

The Men have completed their pool stages already, and, as with the Women, Bristol Jets stood out in Watford by winning against Oxford (14-3), London Scorpions 2 (11-9) and Nottingham Mavericks (8-4) to top Pool F. Pool G belonged to Chester Cheetahs, who downed Revolution (15-5), London Vipers (8-3) and London Eagles 2 (7-3).

The quarter finals see Bristol play Revolution, London Vipers take on Nottingham Mavericks, Chester go head-to-head with Oxford and London Scorpions 2 clashing with London Eagles 2 in a London derby.

Division 3

Womens Cup winners - London Scorpions 2
Mens Cup winners - Galaxy London 2
Womens Plate winners - Exeter Eagle Owls
Mens Plate winners - Old Wesley 2
Mens Bowl winners - London Scorpions 3
Mens Shield winners - Blaze Inferno
MVPs - Lisa Broadie (Nomads), Bob Kestin (Galaxy London)
MVR - Johnny Richards 

Day 2 of Divisions 1 and 2 will be played at Old Leamingtonians RFC on Saturday, May 18th, with Division 3's Round 2 the day afterwards.