Official report 2011
Once again the rugby world gathers in Stockholm for the 19th Tens tournament. Men´s teams from all over the place, but a clear turndown from Great Britain where the economic situation is obviously hurting. Perhaps the strongest in depth ladies tournament, however, and a good turn-out for the Old Boys.
Despite worrying weather forecasts, both days had glorious sunny weather and an excellent crowd contributed to record food and beverage sales. Now let´s turn to the rugby.
Three of four men´s semifinalists from 2010 were back and they were the top seeds together with local team Hammarby, beaten finalists in the Swedish Sevens championships. Multiple Tens winners, Olorun Sharks, were back after a succesful tournament run in England while last years beaten semifinalists, Coté Ouvert and Stockholm Exiles, were seen to be the main threats. Seeding was difficult, however, as a number of regulars were missing and there were many new teams whose playing standard was problematic.
The Sharks and Exiles cruised into the last eight, as did Hammarby, but Coté Ouvert failed to win their pool, losing that spot to the Young Guns, the Swedish U21 team. Old Habberdashers, a team working their way up the English leagues also made it through, but the most sensationl pool winner was the Exiles U18 team, called ”380-0” and strengthened by a couple of older front rowers, who beat both Team Link Titans and the Belgians from Leuven. These young men, who are the backbone of the Swedish U18 team, once again showed their outstanding promise by beating two much bigger and more mature squads. The last two places in the Quarters were taken by the best pool runners up, the Frenchmen from Coté Ouvert and Le Rugbynistère.
On the Ladies´ front, four well-established touring sides, 2010 winners Moody Cows, Pink Babas, Tommy Bohs and the German 7s rugby academy all progressed smoothly to the Quarters, where they were joined by three Swedish hopefuls, Uppsala, Horny Bulls and Exiles Ladies together with Harlequins.
The OB´s had an excellent tournament with all six teams evenly matched and the English team TBC winning the final against home team Hammarby. A noteable comeback by Sandviken Hammers, a club that has been dead for 10 years, that managed to muster a team.
And so to the Quarter finals on Day 2 where one or two of the lower teams seemed to be suffering from the emotional turmoil of the fancy dress party, theme Heaven and Hell, on the Saturday night. The Sharks moved on to the semis at the expense of Coté Ouvert, while on the same side of the draw Old Habs easily beat Hammarby who were a shadow of their Saturday form. On the other side the luck of the draw put Exiles´ youngsters, ”380 – 0”, up against the senior Exiles team. This could only end in one result, but the senior team had to work very hard to score their four tries as "380 – 0" tackled everything in sight. The fourth place in the semis was taken by another surprise package. The Young Guns (the Swedish U21 team) who outclassed the remaining French team, Le Rugbynistère.
Old Habs, with some reinforcements, put up a reasonable show against the Sharks, but the pace of the latter proved too much for them. In the other semi Exiles had once again to work hard against the Young Guns who defended fiercely. Exiles got three tries but conceded their first of the tournament on the final whistle.
So Exiles were the best club side but could they challenge the Sharks who had assembled a very strong select team? The short answer was no. Exiles probably had 50% of the ball but Sharks showed a tremendous ability to create openings from turnovers and to send one of their fast men speeding to the line. Exiles got one from their attacking bursts for a final score of 31 – 5. Seven wins out of nine starts for the Sharks who will be back next year for the 20th Tens.
The Ladies´ Quarters confirmed that this was a strong tournament. The big four proved too strong for the Swedish teams and Harlequins and we were left with two intriguing semis. The first one, Moody Cows went down to the wire against a Pink Babas with a number of Swedish internationalists. The Cows finally went ahead and a fine conversion made it 7 – 0. The Babas pressed at the other end and got over far out to make it 7 – 5 but could not get over the line again. In the other half the Young Germans pressed the Irish girls all the way, but in the end it was the Tommy Bohs who made it to the final 22 - 7. But there it was the Moody Cows who displayed some fine running and interpassing to pull away and retain the title.
The Team Link Titans, shocked on the Saturday by ”380 – 0”, came back to win the Plate 17 – 14 with a drop-goal penalty on the final whistle against local club Enebyberg, who had a useful team based on English visiting players.
The Bowl trophy saw Full Circle, a motley crew of Exiles of all ages, just get home by the same score 17 – 14, against the team from furthest afield, the Dubai Dragons.
The Plate trophy for the Ladies was won by Natural Selection a squad from Finland, Sweden and elsewhere, while the referees chose the youngsters from ”380 – 0” for the Fair Play Trophy.
Thanks once again to the people who make it all possible: convenor Julian Bevan who got together 29 referees, including 20 from abroad and three ladies. They formed squads of three for all 100 matches on four pitches, one of very few tournaments to maintain this standard; Dr Death (Rik von Bergen) and his squad of around 10 who as usual dealt with close to 300 patients over the two days (fortunately nothing serious this year); the result recorders Harriet Sharp and Mailene; and the superb food provided by Karl and his team.
Last but not least, the stalwarts who make it all possible; supremo Allan Mabon and match convenor Hunter Mabon Jr, and increasingly behind the scenes the third brother Hamish. And let´s not forget the close to 100 Exiles who have helped to build up the arena fixtures and to take them all down again.
They will all be back again next year for the Big One, the 20th Stockholm Tens on July 28 – 29, 2012. Book early to avoid disappointment!
HM Sr