Sills Team take home Nat West Table Football Trophy for the fourth year running!

A TEAM of legal eagles has exceeded the prowess of Barcelona FC after retaining a coveted football trophy for the fourth year running.

High-flying business executives from all over the city battled it out for the sought-after Nat West Table Football Competition.

But after a series of tense and competitive matches Sills & Betteridge retained the title with a two-leg victory over the Rilmac Group.

It completes a clean sweep of titles for the lawyers – who have now had an unbroken hold on the trophy since it was inaugurated in 2008.

Teams from Sills and Rilmac were joined by challengers from the Gelder Group, Wright Vigar, Hodgson Elkington, Duncan & Toplis, Lindum Group and Nat West Commercial competing in the highly charged finals night.

Each had won through from a gruelling qualifying campaign involving 18 teams.

Players gathered at a specially constructed arena at the Maltings home of Nat West but home advantage proved of little use to the bank as they tumbled out in the quarter finals – despite a Man of the Match performance by Pat Doody.

Gelder Group, Sills & Betteridge, Lindum and Rilmac Group made it through the semis after a series of results that followed the bookies odds and the form book.

Despite a late appearance from head coach Steve Gelder the building company failed to stop the reigning champions Sills making it through to the final with a 17-8 aggregate score and Rilmac were comfortable winners in their semi with Lindum Group – missing talismanic striker Herman Kok.

So the stage was set for a grudge match and a repeat of last year’s final. The Sills line-up were still fuming at a rival’s reference to an ageing team and Rilmac were determined to prove their “fourth favourites” tag wrong.

It was the triumphant 15-3 first leg score that secured the title – despite a 9-9 second tie draw – and Sills lifted the trophy for the fourth year.

The tournament, organised by Dave Fisher Nat West Business Development Director, also raised a staggering £2,500 for charity with the bank matching money raised by the teams. £1,250 will be donated to Sills nominated charity the Nomad Trust and £1,250 to Lincoln Cathedral’s Turrets Appeal.

“We had a scare in an early round but I think we were worthy winners,” said Sills team captain Andrew Payne.

“We are pleased to retain the trophy and even more delighted that so much money has been raised for local causes.”

“It’s a fun and hard-fought competition but there is a serious side. We have again raised a significant sum for local charities and we hope to entice even more teams to enter next year,” said NatWest’s Pat Doody.

For more information on the story contact Jon Grubb at:

GRUBB STREET MEDIA  on 07780 953575 or on mjgrubb@btinternet.com.