Ulster Barbarians held their first Wheelchair Rugby Blitz on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of September at the Antrim Forum.
The Ulster Barbarian side hosted Scottish side the Caledonian Crushers, English side Darlington Mowden Park Bulls and an Irish Development side in the four team tournament.
The teams played each other in a round robin league on day one with the DMP Bulls finishing at the top of the league with three wins from three.
YOU CAN VIEW OUR DAY ONE MATCH PICTURES HERE
The results from Day 1 are as follows.
| Match 1 | Ulster Barbarians | 30 | 52 | Caledonain Crusher |
| Match 2 | Ulster Barbarians | 36 | 49 | Ireland Development |
| Match 3 | Caledonain Crushers | 34 | 54 | DMP Bulls |
| Match 4 | Ulster Barbarians | 44 | 45 | DMP Bulls |
| Match 5 | Ireland Development | 46 | 41 | Caledonian Crushers |
| Match 6 | Ireland Development | 15 | 21 | DMP Bulls |
There was also a highly anticipated exhibition match between a Trevor Ringland Select side and the teams Volunteer Helpers with the Volunteer’s coming out on top by 11 – 8 in an entertaining match.
The Day 2 matches pitched Ulster Barbarians against the DMP Bulls and the Caledonian Crushers against Ireland Development, the results seeing the Bulls and the Development side progress to the final and the Barbarians and the Crushers meeting in the 3rd place play off.
YOU CAN VIEW OUR DAY TWO MATCH PICTURES HERE
In two entertaining final matches the Barbarians picked up third place with a 45 – 39 win against the Crushers and the Bulls claimed the championship having progressed through the tournament undefeated following a 39 – 31 win against the Irish Development side in a highly technical encounter.
After the final the Barbarian’s Club Captain Paul McLister thanked all those that helped with the running of the successful event. [su_quote]
I would like to thank Caledonian Crushers Wheelchair Rugby Club, DMP Bulls Wheelchair Rugby Club and the Irish Development Team for coming and all playing a very high standard of wheelchair rugby.
We could not have ran the Blitz without all the hard work that the Table Officials, Referees & Volunteers from all four clubs put into the weekend.
The Antrim Forum Leisure Centre management and staff were also a massive help. Thanks for the media coverage the photographers from the Front Row Union and Billy Pollock
Finally to Trevor Ringland and friends for their continued support – thank you.We hope everyone enjoyed it and we plan to build on it for next year. [/su_quote]
Trevor Ringland assisted with the prize giving with the following awards given out.
Best in Class
- Class 0.5 – 1: Ciaran from Crushers
- Class 1.5 – 2: Jonny from Bulls
- Class 2.5 – 3.5: Jonny from Irish Development team
- Most Valuable Player: David Ross Ulster Barbarians
Commemorative plaques were also awarded to the Irish Development Team for their second place finish and the DMP Bulls for their tournament win.
