Atotal of 47 teams were in action in the annual Strand leg of the Hot Summer of Touch series on Friday (16 December).
Despite the gloomy and inclement weather predicted for the day, the eagerness and competitiveness of the players, who were dead keen to have their moment of fun on the beach, could not be stiffled.
In the end the rain abated and the beach touch rugby action was next level.
In the Pro Series the Friedlander Warriors won a very tough semi-final against the Liberty Web Samurais.
The second semi-final was contested between the Score Forward Legends and Team Composure. It took a 21-minute drop-off to separate the two teams, and in the end the Score Forward Legends scored a winner and took their place in the final against the Friedlander Warriors.
This was another tough game that went down to a drop-off and saw an exhausted Legends team sealing its second win of the series.
The Challenger series was won by the Liberty Web Touchies, who beat Most Wanted in the final. The Open Tournament was won by the Barbarian Roosters, who beat the Warrior Old Boys in the final. The junior winners were the Liberty Webb Juniors, who beat the Barbarian Juniors in the final.
The day was fittingly capped off with a special tribute to Nygel Phillips, with his family present to unveil the new Nygel Phillips Grand Prix Floating trophy.
The next leg, held at Kleinmond Beach on Sunday (18 December), was greeted by stunning weather and a great turnout.
In all, 36 teams registered to play and, apart from the regulars, there was some amazing support from the Kleinmond locals as well.
The event was fast and furious, with the soft sand of Kleinmond again making it by far the toughest physical event of the popular touchies series.
The Pro Series final was contested between Team Composure and the Score Forward Legends, and it seems likely these two teams will take the series down to the wire.
Team Composure came out tops this time with a hard caught and deserved 2-1 victory in the final.
The Challenger Series was won by Most Wanted, who beat Liberty Webb Touchies in the final.
The Open Tournament was won by the Last Kings who beat the Barbarian Roosters in the final, and the junior final was won by the Forward Legends Juniors, who overcame Liberty Webb Juniors.
The action now moves to Struisbaai this Friday (23 December).
