Ninjas show their cutting edge

Published 16 Jul 2010 13:00 0 Comments

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The Windsor Ninjas with French Internationals Olivier Azam, Serge Betsen and Thomas Castaignede.

Rugby

AT THE Serge Betsen Academy Tournament, the Windsor Ninjas performed brilliantly to finish third.

It was a touch rugby tournament at Battersea Park and the unfancied Windsor team were fantastic as they went through the day unbeaten against some tough opposition.

The iconic French International's Academy is devoted to assisting children in his homeland of Cameroon and the tournament attracted several French Internationals including Thomas Castaignede and Olivier Azam, London Wasp's players and other rugby notables.

The Ninja's first fixture was against British Lion Phil Vickery's Raging Bull Beer Rats, Gloucester chapter. The underdogs shocked the Rats with an early try by Will Grant. Despite a try from Grant, it took an inspired moment from Mark Hilleard to gain a 3-3 draw at death for Windsor.

Windsor then went on to beat touch specialists No Morals from Clapham Common 3-0 thanks to tries from Sam, Niall and Joel Turner.

The Ninjas then beat Frogs Legs 4-0 thanks to an awesome defensive display that nullified Australian International Steve Kefu and a cutting edge in attack with Peter Eccles (2), Grant and Clive Lewis.

Windsor's last pool match saw them claim a 2-2 draw against The Wasps Academy with Sam Turner scoring two fine tries.

That was it for the Ninjas but as an unexpected bonus, Betsen announced that he would put together a Rugby Legends side of Internationals and Wasps players to play against a team he would select from the opposition that had caught his eye over the day. Ninja skipper Damian Daupeyroux was joined in this team by Grant and brothers Sam and Joel Turner. Although the Legends won, both Sam Turner and Grant scored for the opposition.

This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 16 Jul 10

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