Over 100 teams from 50 law and financial services firms lined up to play in this year’s Montresor Legal & Law Society RFC Festival of Sport
This year’s event, held on Sunday 15 September, saw the introduction of men’s five-a-side football, taking place alongside the mixed tag, netball and men’s rugby sevens. The four tournaments kicked off in glorious sunshine at the extensive grounds of Richmond Athletic Association.
Football
Thirty teams entered this year’s tournament, with Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang narrowly beating Slaughter & May 2-1 in the final of the Cup. New Square Chambers beat Kirkland & Ellis 1-0 in the final of the Plate. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton won the bowl, which was also tightly contested, beating Mishcon de Reya 2-1.
While Mishcon de Reya were slightly disappointed finalists, they were awarded the Fair Play (as voted for by the referees) as they stepped up and played in two pools throughout the day, replacing a team who dropped out in the run up.
Mixed tag
Norton Rose Fulbright narrowly beat Osborne Clarke 11-10 in the final of the Cup, with last year’s Plate winners Eversheds Sutherland doubling up with a 5-2 win over Irish firm William Fry, back over from Dublin for the 25th year running.
Travers Smith took home the bowl, beating the Army Legal Services 7-5. Baker McKenzie took home the Fair Play award for their general contribution throughout the tournament and the spirit in which they played their matches.
Netball
A packed netball tournament (always the most popular tournament at the Festival of Sport) saw 32 teams battling it out, with Lloyd’s of London Netball Club taking home the Cup, beating Barclays Legal 7-4 in a high-quality final.
Linklaters beat Baker McKenzie 14-5 in the Plate final and BDB Pitmans (new entrants this year) beat Kennedys 7-5 in the final of the bowl. Charles Russell Speechlys took home the Fair Play award for their demeanour throughout the competition.
Rugby
Rugby entrants have been dwindling in recent years, with 16 originally lining up to try to win the Cup. But there was some high-quality rugby on show, and in the final, Lloyd’s of London Rugby Club beat Slaughter & May 33-15 for the Cup.
The Law Society RFC managed to beat Ashurst 29-7 in the final of the Plate, with Birketts being awarded the Fair Play award.
All of the tournaments were played in the spirt in which the event is aiming for, with good-quality matches aligned to a social and family-friendly atmosphere. The weather was great and the introduction of music throughout the day a nice addition for those supporting and not playing.
The Montresor Legal team had a raffle, with Ross Boddy from Eversheds Sutherland winning an Apple Watch Series 9, to go with the mixed tag Plate his team had won earlier in the day.
Tournament director Daniel How said: ‘We couldn’t be happier with the turnout for this year’s event, as we continue to grow and expand. Next year we’ll be introducing women’s five-a-side football, as well as looking at the option for women’s rugby sevens.
‘A big thanks to the team at Montresor Legal for their support and the Brockwell Capital team for once again providing the balls for the teams—which got great feedback on their design this year!’
Pictured above: the winning teams
