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2012 Fi-ta Bondi Tens Tournament Report Woollahra Colleagues hosted another very successful Bondi Tens competition on 10/11th February with Fi -Ta Sports Apparel Providers as major sponsor. Thirty two teams in the Open competition and four teams in the Over-35’s plus two Women’s Demonstration games made for a very busy schedule.  On Day 1, the eight pools of four teams each contested a round robin. In Pool A, Tattersalls, runners-up last year, again headed their pool after disposing of Balmoral Hellfish, Bronte Bros (who turned out to be a dark horse of the comp), and Red Indians (Iggies under another guise!). In Pool B, Newcastle & Hunter representative team returned after a break of six years and looked threatening, beating Scots OB, and two newcomers, Bunyips (primarily from QLD) and Bondi T-Rex. Pool C had four newcomers, Landmark NSW HOGS, Old ProGradians, Phantoms (St Andrews College) and Sydney-based Punters & Collectors. HOGS came out unbeaten, just reward for a big effort to get to the tournament after losing a few players to the floods around Moree. In Pool D, Brothers, not quite as strong as previous years, beat a threatening Creepy Pigs and disposed of newcomers Sydney Jumbucks and a sadly depleted Wagga Waratahs. Pool E had two tough teams, Hammerheads from Randwick and Deadwood, from outer Sydney. It met expectations of a good game, with Deadwood just winning 10-7 (and going on to reach the Cup Final). Third and fourth in the Pool were newcomers Manly Raptors and crowd favourites Tabubil Cats from Papua New Guinea, who lost all their games but made lots of friends. Pool F was one of the weaker pools, where Birdsville Toucans (straight from a Bondi aviary), comfortably accounted for the Fire Brigade, BOBS and C-T Wingmen from Cairns, who are Barrons Trinity of 2010 with a few ring-ins. Toucan’s coach Laurie wasn’t too happy about this result or, for that matter, the Pool seedings as he predicted, correctly, that his team would get “smashed” in the Cup! In Pool G, three times champions Country Barbarians were pooled with colourful All Red All Stars, a team of redheads kitted out in Ronald Macdonald red and yellow strip, with a mission to advertise the dangers of skin cancer to fair-skinned people. Great stuff-hope you’re back next year. Also in Pool G were Crofty Cut (aka Beecroft) and Delta Demons, none of whom were strong enough to stop BaBa’s unbeaten run. In Pool H new, late but persistent entrants Slippery Gypsies from Young were too good for NSW Crows (Wagga), and old faithfuls Team Ramrod (Quirindi) and Kokoda Brothers.
Day 2 was the knockout competition for the Fi-ta Bondi Tens Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield. Pool winners Tattersalls, Newcastle & Hunter, Landmark HOGS, Brothers, Hammerheads, Toucans, Country Barbarians and Slippery Gypsies competed for the Cup. Tattersalls had comfortable wins against Slippery Gypsies and Brothers to get to the Cup Final. At the other end of the draw, Country BaBa’s beat Newcastle & Hunter in a tough match that went down to Golden Point, but then lost 10-7 to Deadwood, their first loss in four Tournaments. Deadwood put up a good show in the Final, but went down 19-12 to worthy winners, Tattersalls. In the Plate, Scots OB had a close encounter with Manly Raptors in the semi final, but met their match against the all- New Zealand team Bronte Brothers, who took out the Plate 40-5 In the Bowl, Hammerheads, who never really lived up to their own expectations beat Red Indians after a close game, then the Phantoms, to get into the final. Sydney Jumbucks, new to the competition, saw off the Fire Brigade and NSW Crows, but were well beaten by the Hammerheads, who claimed the Bowl. In the Shield, the Tabubil Cats had their first win of the Tournament against Bondi T-Rex by a Golden Point and then narrowly beat Old ProGradians to get to the Final. Team Ramrod had comfortable wins against BOBS and Delta Demons so, when it came to the Shield Final, Team Ramrod had more gas in the tanks, beating the gallant PNG team by the odd converted try. In the Challenge competition, losers in Round One of the knockout on Day 2 play a mirror image of the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield of the main competition. Bondi T-Rex beat Wagga Waratahs for the Challenge Shield. In the Challenge Bowl, Red Indians were too good for the All Red All Stars- All Stars, you are good for the Tournament. In the Challenge Plate, Crofty Cuts flogged the Kokoda Brothers who, as last year, just run out of puff towards the end. In the Challenge Cup, Slippery Gypsies, be-wigged to the end, beat a strong Landmark Hogs team that must be cheered for putting on a good show, despite flood problems at home. In the Over -35’s tournament, four teams, Fowler Scaffolds, Manly Savers, BOBS and the Fire Brigade played a round robin (three matches in two hours). Fowler Scaffolds won all their games convincingly and Manly Savers lost all of theirs. BOBS and Manly Savers played-off for 3rd place and BOBS won by a conversion; so Manly Savers departed without winning a game and feeling as if the whole world was against them. Fowler Scaffolds, who are last year’s winners Zenith re-badged, beat Fire Brigade in the O-35’s Final and so, in reality, took the Cup for the second year on the trot. Without UTBNB O-35s, Fowler Scaffolds are a class above the competition so we need new blood to take them on. It’s an important part of the Tens agenda so everyone should be thinking how we can make this competition stronger and better. Everyone had a great time; ideal rugby weather, a brief thunder clap of Saturday to clear the air; lots of colour and generous spirit; and good rugby. We ran out of BBQ and Over-35’s Final should have got better billing, but overall, pretty successful. A big “thank you” to David Vaughan and the NSW Referees who, as ever, did a wonderful job, often without appreciation. Monies in excess of costs will go to three charities; Charlie Teo’s “Cure for Life”; Sydney Children’s Brain Tumour Rehabilitation at Randwick SCH; and Royal North Shore Burns Unit, who are a constant with our Bali bombing origins and provide doctors, nurses and the wonderful medical services for the two days. See you 2013. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have any questions contact Alan Roberts at anrobert@bigpond.net.au on 0401 993 908. Please pass these Newsletters on to your team members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Newsletter |
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A novelty this year was to have a couple Women’s Demonstration 7 a-side games. Fire Brigade, Waverley and Warringah turned up to play but Sydney Uni cried off with an hour to go because of a bit of rain. Not a good omen. But the Fire Brigade, Waverley and Warringah played a couple of games of which they should be proud, and which the crowd appreciated.. Well done, ladies.