Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Match Reports - 23rd August

Hi all, what a way to start the season off, an upset, and two fantastic games. We're starting off something new this season which I'm pretty excited about, match reports for every game. I'm collecting them from teams, and posting them together. Below is last weeks...

You'll see the only missing is one from Dojo... Sensei!

Heroes - Silent George

Heroes have done some recruiting in the off season and this first game was a bit of a test to see how this new look team performed. Slamtown started out with their customary zone D, which didn't prove to be too much trouble for us to work through the middle. We traded more or less to 5 all, then went on a three point run to take half 8-5. Slamtown came out fired up in the second half and brought it back a little but in the end we kept the pressure on and took it out 15-12. The Heroes long game was working well with Paul, Chris, and Seb putting up some great shots, with Myall pulling down many of these, and their long options were consistently under a lot of pressure by one of the boys in green. Slamtown seemed a bit flat and I'm sure they'll be fired up next time we meet. 


Blitz - Myles

Round 1 saw the Northside Cobras take on Blitz, in what was expected to be a mystery match. With Cobras rumoured to be playing savage and the Blitz roster having a few new faces, it was difficult to predict what would happen. Unfortunately for Blitz, the rumours were false and Cobras turned up with a team, so hopes of a repeat of last season’s game down on the Gold Coast were dashed. Despite this, Blitz came out strong with some new plays courtesy of gimpy Cunliffe and managed to take half 8-6.
In the second half, the talent of the full strength Cobras shone through, with some great connections and bids putting them on a five point run. Blitz was unable to respond in kind, and so the score was 15-11 to Cobras. In the spirit circle after, there was a sort of consolation prize for the defeated Blitz team: an MVP award. Reece had found a Piping Hot cap (with the sticker still on) prior to the game in a trash can (so I’ve heard), and now I don’t know what to do with it.
Cobras pull out a gutsy win after losing half, and give Blitz a lot to think about.

Cobras - WetnoseAfter many seasons carrying the weight of expectation on their shoulders, Brisbane’s ultimate community didn’t relinquish these expectations on the Cobras again this season. Early in this game this weight showed its effects with the Cobras struggling to deal with the upwind points. Not due to throwing but just because when you are carrying this much weight the wind has an amazing effect on your ability to run. This was until a break in the game where there was a rousing speech from Brian where we learnt a great new one stroke masturbation technique. Following this break the team was able to move more freely against the wind almost like a load had been lifted. So to all the people out there who ever doubted the Cobras just know we are coming for you! 


Bugs - Mat
A tough game to open the season for the Buggers against the carryover champs and certainly the strongest team of the current BPL era.  The Moreton Bay Buggers welcome back the same roster as S1, with the equally welcome return of Graham Prickett to the lineup.  We knew it would be a competitive game and with the Dojo down one of their key players for the week (Fatty) we felt this was a good chance to kick off the season with an upset.
On a still night with perfect playing conditions, Offence prevailed with both teams scoring almost error free for the first half.  With too much height on the Dojo line, Bugs had to work it up through the field through the poppers.  We did this easily enough and almost all our goals came from <10m passes.  It proved relatively easy to move the disc through the Dojo junk and it's clear that this is probably the best strategy to expose the Dojo weakness, which is sluggish acceleration in their ageing legs ... with a couple of obvious exceptions.
But what they lack in leg-speed they make up for with clean hands, good throws, height and experience.  It was that experience that would prove the major difference at the end of the game.
The game went point for point with a couple of changes of lead, and as it approached Time-Cap the intensity and physicality of the contest rose.
There were a number of contact fouls called and some hot debate between the involved players, but some credit must be given to both teams for the restraint shown by their sideline and their un-involved players to stay out of the incidents and not pour any fuel on the flare-ups.
Time was called at 11-12 to Dojo, who gave up the disc, but the Bugs gave it right back and ended up with a 2pt loss.  We were pretty gutted to have lost a game which we felt was well within our grasp ... but there were plenty of positives in it for us, and the team should feel like it has the weapons and the athleticism to match it with any other team this season. 



Slamtown - Stef
The first Thursday night of the season was a big wake up call for the Town of Slam.
 We casually strolled over to the dark field ready to take a routine win from our brothers in expansion, the Heroes.
 I mean we had never lost to them, and recently, we've won quite decidedly.
 Our warm up was lackluster, and that carried over to our play.
 The Stone brothers shared a pair of cleats, our handlers couldn't find form, and out receivers couldn't catch a cold.
 Righto... excuses, excuses, excuses.... well... all that is true, but I must give credit where credit is due... the Heroes, were... very unHero-like.
 How's that for a backhanded compliment?
 The Heroes have been classic underachievers by many estimations, a team full of developing talent, that was expected to have developed by now.  They have always seemed to be a few clutch plays away, and even when in front, they were good at finding ways to let opponents back in.
 Well not this Thurs night... Their key players stepped up, and their role players did their jobs.  George, Myall, and Seb were excellent, and the team didn't quit, even when we mounted a few early surges... in fact that helped them put the foot down on us.
 We were very humbled, and will remember the thought of letting this one get away to fuel us back up the hill as we pursuit greatness and redemption as the season kicks on.
 Good game Heroes.




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