Report once again courtesy of Brummie!

vs Clapham

This game at Tour 1 was a whitewash, and with our O being broken first point it looked like we might be in for a similar result here.

Instead, we stayed with them toe-to-toe, getting a break back in the first half to trade the half out (and win it) 8-7.

The second half would be a nervy one for Clapham, our dump defence and solid marks keeping them penned in effectively, making them throw lots of high stall options.

Tiffin completely shut down the oppo in the first half, handblocking him right on their goal line which we easily converted. Our D line not only got blocks but moved the disc effectively, swinging the disc effortlessly and breaking a lot of marks. We got another break right after half to go up 9-7, but momentum shifted at 10-9 when we pulled OB, they scored in 3 passes, then we turned on an easy drop and they got back ahead 10-11.

By this point, our game had overrun and we'd attracted a bigger crowd than watched the actual final on Sunday. We traded to the end, Smiles pulling a high disc down over Mum to make it 12-13, and despite getting the disc to level it up at sudden death, a throw bounced in the wind and Clapham marched downfield for the win, 12-14.

vs Leeds

Yet again, we went from playing extremely well to playing well below par here, possibly because we thought the game would be easy compared to our previous opponents. By bringing less than 100% to the field, we allowed Leeds the slack they needed to break us first point.

We quickly got back on target to go 3-1 up, but they bounced right back. We continued to be quite flat until the second half, when we managed to pick up our game and put it to bed; Dec somehow didn't get my amazing hammer that was only about 5m off the pitch, but we got it back and Smiles made Pringle lay out for the winning goal. 15-9 ?

Looks like its going to be a tight pool, Leeds having lost to Fire by 2...

vs Fire 1

We built this up as the quarter final which it basically was, yet started disappointing slow. Against a team like Fire, that means defeat. We went down 8-4 at half and faded to a 15-8 loss. Few highlights here, except Colonel's consistently effortless hammers to rinse their zone, and Joe's bail out rollcurves to achieve the same.

Our man D just couldn't run with them, our O was too hesistant, and we just looked like we didn't want to play. Against Clapham we played with no fear, and didn't over-respect our opposition. Instead of bringing that same attitude here, we played scared and were crushed.

Fire admitted they were nervous about this game, but once they'd pulled away they played relaxed, confident ultimate, the kind which we played just as effectively earlier on in the day.

Meanwhile, Leeds get bagelled 15-0 by Clapham... so much for a tight pool! On to Sunday morning, and top 8 survival time

vs Devon

Again, our O line gets broken first point on a speculative throw into a crowd from Devon. They threw a lot of these to their big receivers, but I bet they weren't expecting some of our tight D to rip them down instead...

The second point was an offensive masterclass as we scored in a blur, then went on a D roll. They got one more, then we had another sweet point, Freeman hitting me for a huge under, leaving Dom isolated in the endzone for the pushpass assist (gotta love what you do!).

We were up 7-2 with the disc on their endzone line to take half... and suddenly we just lost focus entirely. Three turns for us in that point (all endzone!) before Devon score upwind, then we get broken downwind and the game starts looking tight again. We switched to a straight up mark to stop the hucks, they adjusted by breaking us around and throwing down the deep channel. We really needed a zone...

Our defensive pressure on their handlers was what kept us in the game, despite our faltering offence, and with Buddha making another huge layout block in their endzone, it was just what we needed to fire us up and finish the game off 15-11.

vs Dublin

Much like the Leeds game, we played down to this team. We beat them pretty comfortably at Tour 1 and expected an easy ride. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AT TOUR! I think they took the half, winning almost everything in the air, we just didn't look sharp either on the throwing or receiving side of things.

Obviously we upped our game, Dave leading the charge with some big plays, two hucks to Freeman (one forehand, one backhand) for goals, then a quick handblock / double happiness combo. Bobby got a sweet handblock right on the sideline for us too, and we started playing our confident style again. At 12-11, I catch the disc 2m from the endzone with Kei right in front of me, I spaffed it royally and immediately curse myself and shout to the sky.

Then I heard a cheer; what I hadn't seen was Kei turning round, chasing down the disc that I threw behind him, and making a sweet, full extension layout grab. Dublin contested that it was down, Buddha and Colonel thought it was up, so the disc came back and I threw a much better disc for the goal. We got another upwind goal courtesy of an excellent piece of skill from Buddha, who managed to box out their best receiver then made the 180-degree-layout-grab-and-toe-the-back-line move that he's so famous for, only this time it definitely wasn't me that threw it.

The final goal came via a wayward huck to Dave, with him running down a mac'd disc which he throws to Smiles once (travel), twice (violation) three times for the game winner, 15-12 (?)

vs Fusion

Straight into this, and everyone was feeling tired. Inspirational words from Bobby had the desired effect though, as we came out fired up and guns blazing, starting off nicely with a break.

The game was over fast, it was an end-to-end huck fest, neither teams defence being very effective against a combination of great throwing and some seemingly unstoppable receivers. Joe and Tiffin juggled an upwind goal between them, Joe ending up on the scoresheet, Dom threw an inch perfect 1 pass point to me from the brick, Dec's attempted greatest off a too-long Smiles deep shot, and Pringle's high layout take over two Fusion defenders that caught him up (fatty) when I hucked it to him. They took half 8-6, we pretty much traded from there.

Buddha went down with a bad looking ankle injury, and at 13-12 game to 15 we know we have to break them now, or forget it.

So we throw on a line of last year's players and try some of last year's zone; it worked a treat, getting us the turn after two passes, and we punch in the disc easily to tie it up at 13s. Unfortunately our next pull goes OB, they score against out zone, then break us for the win 13-15.

Despite the loss, I think we all felt like it was a great finish to the weekend, the last game being extremely hard fought and lots of fun.

We played hard, confident, and enjoyed ourselves, made lots of noise, and that made it a great game to be part of. Let's ensure that when we go out to face the likes of Leeds, Devon, Dublin we take that same attitude and put them down to 2 or 3 points instead of letting them think they are our equals. To win those games against Clapham, Fire and Fusion, we really need to up our fitness; it makes thinking easier and execution more reliable if you're in better shape later on in the tournament.

Thanks to Freddie and Sam for their sideline work, and all my team mates for working so hard.