Phuket International Rugby 11s a big hit at ACG

The Alan Cook Ground (ACG) in Thalang welcomed a number of teams from near and afar on the weekend of June 6-7 for another hugely successful Phuket International Rugby 11s tournament.

- The Phuket News

Heavy monsoon storms and continual downpours scattered the week in the lead up to the event, suggesting for perfect rugby playing conditions as day one got underway with the Athena Siam Coffin Dodgers Over-35s and One Foot in the Grave Over-45s Vets tournaments.

It was last year's Coffin Dodgers runners up, Pronto Rugby UK, who started proceedings with a hard fought 10-0 win over tournament debutants Kamesenryu Rugby Club from Japan, while the aptly named Muddy Buffalos were unlucky to go down 7-0 to the Prebbleton Dinos and the home team, Phuket Viagrabonds, came through 10-5 against a plucky Chiang Mai Cobras side.

In round two matches the Kiwis Dinos side were unlucky to go down to Pronto UK 7-5 whilst the Buffalos got the better of the Kamesenryu 7-0, while The Viagrabonds went down to the Dubai Barbarians 14-0.

With the weather showing signs of clearing up and the sun beginning to shine through between the showers, the Pronto lads took control of their group with a 19-5 win over the Muddy B's, whilst the Dinos and Kamesenryu played out an entertaining 14-14 draw. The CNX Cobras went down 7-0 to a classy Dubai Baba's side, before bouncing back to defeat the Dinos 5-0 in their quarter-final, while Dubai had a strong showing against Kamesenryu 31-5.

In the semi-finals, Pronto Rugby just scraped through, beating the Phuket Viagrabonds 7-0, whilst CNX Cobras went down to the Dubai Baba's side, 19-0.

In the Bowl final the Kiwi Prebbleton Dinos were too strong for the Muddy Buffalos, winning 12-0, as the Chiang Mai Cobras won the plate by the same score against the Viagrabonds.

The Cup final was a torrid affair with Pronto Rugby and the Dubai Baba's giving no quarter.