Semifinals Preview

There has been a lot of hype surrounding this week's round of games as teams vie for a spot in the Grand Finals. A poll on the Facebook group has hinted that the league thinks Seagulls and Tie Dyenosaurs will be facing off in the Grand Finals. However, if this season is anything to go by, we can never be too sure about predictions as some teams have the ability to toss up a few surprises!

Semifinals Game 1 - Seagulls VS Django Unchained

It's light against dark in this one as the white Seagulls take on the black Django Unchained. Seagulls have shown fantastic form in the second half of the season and have not dropped a game ever since their loss to Fluro Fantasy. The fact that they have beaten most teams by a comfortable margin should also be an indication of the threat they will bring to the field. Seagulls also have a slight advantage in physical prowess with a number of tall players on their team which will certainly prove to be an obstacle to Django Unchained.

Although Django Unchained have not been as remarkable as Seagulls during the regular season, they have shown tremendous form in the first round of the play-offs. Not many players on the Django team can say they have Rob Dehollander's height or insanely long arms, but what they lack in physicality they make up for in athleticism. Daniel "Jonesy" Jakob was in good form during play-offs week and if he continues his form he will certainly bring heat to the game.

Semifinals Game 2 - Fluro Fantasy VS Tie Dyenosaurs

In their last meeting, Fluro Fantasy narrowly beat out Tie Dyenosaurs 13-11 and although they still managed to win, it was by no means a walk in the park. Fluro Fantasy missed out on the minor premiership with a surprise loss to Purple Haze in the last round of the regular season but managed to exact revenge in their play-off game with a narrow 7-6 victory over the purple team. Captain Ash has done well to nurture Fluro Fantasy into a team capable of playing Ultimate at the top level but will they be able to handle the pressure of the semifinals and make it a double over the Dyenosaurs?

Tie Dyenosaurs are another team that have come together well. In their 13-2 loss to Django Unchained it was painfully obvious that at that time, they were a one-man team (ala Finny) but the Tie Dyenosaurs that played in the playoffs last week showed some incredible synergy and teamwork. The Dyenosaurs will be itching for a win after narrowly losing out to Fluro Fantasy in the regular season and it remains to be seen if they will make it to the Grand-finals.

Losers' Bracket

While the top four teams battle it out for a spot in the Grand Finals and ultimately, champions, the bottom six teams are at the other end of the spectrum fighting to NOT win the infamous Wooden Spoon. Rumour has it the captain of the team awarded the Wooden Spoon has to take a paddling to the ass but that rumour remains unproven. Match-ups for the losers' bracket will be announced tonight at the fields so make sure you get there early!!

Notice that the games have no predictions and that's because they are too close to be called! This is by far one of the most exciting semifinal rounds the league has had to date. If you feel like you can accurately predict the score, leave a comment or tweet @TsvUltimate on Twitter with your predictions! Let's get keen for some Ultimate and see you guys on the fields!!

Round 8 Review

Heartbreak and jubilation are the two words that most aptly describe this week's round of games. The much talked about game between Cockwalas and Tie Dyenosaurs certainly lived up to its hype. Django Unchained once again demonstrated just how good they are with an incredible comeback over Blue Crush. And Purple Haze showed us that miracles do happen with their win over Fluro Fantasy.

Game 1 - Django Unchained VS Blue Crush

The game started off really well in favour of Blue Crush as they utilised the speed they have on their team with some fast running and precise long throws to score point after point and to open up a huge lead against Django Unchained. Despite Django's best effort, Blue Crush were able to take a comfortable 7-3 lead at half-time.

With Blue Crush's small team size, they would always run into the risk of tiring themselves out too quickly and this was what happened against Django Unchained last night. Django, not short of players, took advantage of Blue Crush's diminished numbers and ran them hard in the second half to start their comeback.

The game ultimately went down to universe point (12-12) and both teams were slogging it out trying to score the final point for victory. Ecuadorean Miguel played his heart out and definitely put in a man of the match performance. However, it was Django Unchained that had the edge to close out the game and take down a W.

Final score: This match had plenty edge-of-the-seat stuff from start to finish and Django Unchained's manpower advantage over Blue Crush allowed them to narrowly win this game 13-12.

Game 2 - Fluro Fantasy VS Purple Haze

My oh my oh my! What a game this was! Fluro Fantasy have finally succumbed after a successful, and unbeaten, season to minnows Purple Haze. Nobody in a million years would have predicted this outcome. Purple Haze looked like a different team this week compared to last week not just in terms of field performance, but also in personnel. By my count, Purple Haze certainly looked like they had a full team on the fields this week and the addition of Tyson provided the link in the chain that Purple Haze needed.

Purple Haze started the game well and were up 3-2 before I even had a chance to look. Tyson and Johannes handled well together as a pair and Purple Haze receivers such as James, Bevo and the super awesome Meg Landis did well with under-cuts and deep cuts to provide their handlers with plenty of options. Ryan Stokes and Mike played some awesome defense to deny the opposition some crucial points. Fluro Fantasy, for the first time in the season, found themselves playing catch-up throughout the match. However, the yellow chimera still played extremely well, especially in defense, with their cup being well-organised and hardworking. Andy and Sabrina once again displayed their awesome skill on the field with Andy being solid in handling and Sabrina making some excellent runs.

A mix of emotions erupted on the field when Cara Thompson caught the disc in the end-zone for the final point. Purple Haze players were ecstatic in their celebrations whereas heartbreak was seen on the Fluro Fantasy team. No more can be said for captain Ash who played an amazing game of frisbee, leading his team well despite trailing for most of the match.

Final score: Purple Haze have achieved the most incredible upset of the season by beating Fluro Fantasy 13-10. It seems that these two teams will meet again in the first game of next week's double header. Will Purple Haze be able secure slay the giants again, or will Fluro Fantasy exact revenge? Only time will tell!

Game 3 - Cockwalas VS Tie Dyenosaurs

This was a game that both teams wanted to win badly. Cockwalas started the game extremely well and managed to score two quick points. However, a few crucial mistakes allowed Tie Dyenosaurs to tie the score at 2-2. Damo then suffered an ankle injury in a collision with Mitch which forced him out of the first half. Cockwalas took advantage of his absence and managed to race to a 6-2 lead by playing their trademark continuation frisbee. Cockwalas were also able to shut down the Dyenosaurs' long game with some tight man defense and rookie Oscar Stahl certainly put on a great show with his defensive pressure. In their rush to take the half, however, Cockwalas slipped up and allowed the Dyenosaurs to unexpectedly score five points and take the lead 7-6 at half-time.

The second half was an entirely different game as the Dyenosaurs came out looking like a different team. Damo managed to recover from his injury and we saw him link-up with Finny in their traditional give-and-go game. This allowed them to quickly work the disc up the field and tire out the Cockwalas defense. Dyenosaurs also took advantage of several mismatches to put the disc long and score. Despite a few morale-boosting plays, such as Chichi's layout grab for the score, Cockwalas made too many uncharacteristic mistakes and Tie Dyenosaurs took advantage of that to win the game.

Final score: A game that was very hyped up certainly delivered as Tie Dyenosaurs beat out Cockwalas to a 13-9 victory despite missing key players Corrie, Matt, and David. The Dyenosaurs will definitely be a team to look out for in the finals!

Game 4 - Robust Fawn VS Seagulls

Robust Fawn go into this game with a strong cross wind blowing across the field and missing key player Chris Palazzi. However, they have the ability to play with a strong gust especially with strong handlers such as Jenny and Zane. This setup allowed captain Kramer to spend more time in the stack as a receiver. The return of Alyssa also helped to lessen the effects of missing Palazzi.

When the wind died down, Seagulls managed to find their footing and were able to play some classic Seagull frisbee. Deanna did well on defense getting tons of blocks on Zane and Fran dawg managed to surprise Robert Dehollander by throwing out several footblocks to stop his throws.

This well-spirited game even had a point where both teams played with six girls and one guy and ended with a line-out style play (ala Rugby Union). There were definitely plenty of skillful plays and a lot of running seen in this game as both teams tried to go for the win.

Final score: Seagulls beat Robust Fawn 13-4 but I feel that wasn't a true reflection of the amount of skill and hard work put in by the players in orange.

Game 5 - Grapists  VS Mitey Discs

The first half looked like it was Grapists VS Mitey Discs VS the wind. Both teams came out with a strong zone D which made any long throws highly contested and more for field position rather than scoring. Both teams traded points despite the numerous times the disc went into the ground or was simply dropped. But Grapists were able to take half 7-6.

The half time banter ensued, and by the time both teams lined up at their end zones, the wind had stopped. It was zone defense against zone offense with no wind and that made for some very interesting and challenging plays! The Grapist's forced the turn and then the play that no one expected, a midway cross field hammer to the end zone from Phil to Emily for the score. I'm pretty sure the Grapist's were as stunned as the Mitey Discs when that happened!!

The game continued in high spirit and high intensity with the Mitey Disc girls making some great cuts and scoring some well deserved points. However the Grapist's stayed out in front all the way to the end to wrap up their round robin campaign with a 13-11 win.

Final score: Grapists with a narrow 13-11 victory over Mitey Discs.

That's all for this week! Get ready for for more intense frisbee action as all teams head into finals week to vie for a place in the Grand Finals. This is turning out to be one of the most amazing Ultimate seasons in the league's history!!

Round 8 Previews

The last round of games of the regular season is finally upon us! This is the last chance for teams to secure a better position for a more favourable finals match-up. Here are this week's predictions!

Game 1 - Cockwalas VS Tie Dynosaurs

The long awaited game of the season (for me anyway). The protege takes on the master as Finny goes up against Dave. Both teams have had solid seasons up until now and amazingly, have had the same results. Both teams have won and lost against the same teams but Tie Dynosaurs are further ahead on the table due to point differential. This is the match that will separate these two teams and determine which is the better side.

This game will be be won be whichever side has the least turnovers as both teams enjoy playing the short game and walking the disc into the end-zone. Finny will be looking to exploit Cockwalas' inability to make the open-side swing pass whereas Cockwalas will be looking to take advantage of Finny's low release flicks. Both teams have their share of good players and it will be exciting to see who will emerge victorious.

Prediction: Tie Dynosaurs to win 13-9. I predict Damo will be the deciding factor in this match.

Game 2 - Fluro Fantasy VS Purple Haze

First place Fluro Fantasy take on last place Purple Haze in the biggest mismatch of the season. Hopefully Purple Haze will have some more players this week. One thing's for sure though; Tyson is back and will be looking to help Purple Haze secure a favourable position for the finals. Fluro Fantasy have already secured first place in the league and the outcome of this match is unlikely to have an effect on their finals match-up but they are a competitive side and will be looking to finish off this season strong with an unbeaten record.

Throughout the season, it has been the girls of Fluro Fantasy that have given them an edge over their opponents. Will Purple Haze be able to stop Fluro Fantasy or will Fluro finish the season unbeaten?

Prediction: I really want Purple Haze to stop Fluro Fantasy in its tracks but my bet is on Fluro Fantasy beating Purple Haze 13-9.

Game 3 - Django Unchained VS Blue Crush

After suffering defeats in their respective games last week, both Django and Blue Crush will be looking to bounce back with a victory this week to secure a more favourable position for the finals. Django have had a surprising season and are languishing somewhere in the bottom half of the table. Blue Crush find themselves in a similar position as the regular season draws to a close. On paper, both teams have similar abilities but we know they can each turn up the heat on the field if they want.

Timmy will find it hard to play it hard to play a long game against Django due to the defensive capabilities of the team, and particularly James. A tight cup defense seemed to work well for Cockwalas against Blue Crush's handlers last game and it might work for Django this week. Blue Crush will have to put pressure on Django receivers and force the turnover if they want to increase their chances of winning.

Prediction: Blue Crush are too suited for the long game and I have a feeling they will stick to that strategy which i think will be easily defended by James and his Black marauders. Django Unchained to win this one 13-8.

Game 4 - Robust Fawn VS Seagulls

Second place Seagulls take on Robust Fawn. Seagulls will want to finish the regular season with a victory as they head into the finals so we can expect them to come out strong. Robust Fawn will have to watch out for Seagulls receivers such as Cooper and Renee who are excellent both in offense and defense. Rob, Deanna, and Genge are expected to be handling and they are without a doubt one of the strongest handling lineups in the league. Robust Fawn will be using Zane, Jenny, and possibly Kramer to handle, leaving Chris Palazzi in a receiving role.

A man defense would work well against Seagulls as it would limit their running. On paper, Robust Fawn have the players to handle Seagulls and should not be facing a mismatch on the field. But will they bring the heat against Seagulls or go out like Bambi's mom on a snowy winter night?

Prediction: If Robust Fawn bring their A-game tonight, I think they might be able to beat the Seagulls. However, looking at form and previous results, my money is still on Seagulls to win it 13-7.

Game 5 - Grapists  VS Mitey Discs

Mitey Discs have had a very good season thus far and should finish in a comfortable top four position for the finals. Grapists on the other hand, have had an unfortunate season where they came close to winning many games only to lose out at the very end. With Bobby Jackson's injury adding to their woes, Grapists have a tough end of the season match. Both these teams like to mix up their play between short and long, and man and zone defense so it will be very interesting to see how they adapt to one another and the flow of the game.

Prediction: Mitey Discs to close out the season strong with a 13-10 win over Grapists.

Townsville Ultimate League Round 7

Yo yo yo! Another week has passed and another amazing round of Ultimate was witnessed by all. Round 7 of the league presented little surprises as top teams secured victory over the lower-placed teams. All teams showed immense spirit in this round of games and that was definitely heartening to see.

Game 1 - Seagulls VS Purple Haze

The return of captain Swan from Nationals did little to help the cause of Purple Haze as they were severely lacking in manpower on a night when they needed everyone there the most. Having only eight players present meant that Purple Haze only had one substitute for the entire night. Despite being short-staffed, Purple Haze still went into the game looking to make an impact. However, second place Seagulls proved to be to formidable and they easily swept Purple Haze aside.

Final score: Seagulls with an easy 13-3 victory over Purple Haze.

Game 2 - Django Unchained VS Mitey Discs

With Pete the Doctor back on the lineup, Mitey Discs were ready to bounce beat from last week's defeat to Team Riley Smith. The game started fairly even with both teams showing some tenacity but Mitey Discs eventually managed to pull away a build a substantial lead. Mitey Discs never looked like they were in any trouble throughout the game and comfortably put this one away.

Final score: Mitey Discs beat Django Unchaned 13-6.

Game 3 - Cockwalas VS Blue Crush

Proponents of the short game vs the long game - game 3 was a match that featured two teams with vastly differently playing styles. The dangers posed by the running of Blue Crush players such as Wes, Rob, Torunn, Miguel, Hossain, and Aggie were evident from the get-go which was why Cockwalas set up a zone defense right from the start. With Phangbang back in (limited) action and running the cup, Mitchell playing in the gut and Dave sitting deep, Cockwalas put some serious pressure on Blue Crush and forced many turnovers near their end-zone. This setup allowed Cockwalas to score some quick points and race off to an early 4-1 lead.

The second half started a little differently as Blue Crush started to assassinate Cockwalas captain and key handler Dave, and they scored a few quick points to turn the heat up. Cockwalas then switched to secondary handlers Mitch and Phangbang which allowed Dave to fall into a receiver role and helped Cockwalas to regain momentum. Blue Crush then started exploiting Phangbang's limited running abilities which forced him to sit out the rest of the match but he had already imparted his infinite wisdom upon the team.

Final score: Cockwalas beat Blue Crush 13-8 in a match where the score didn't really reflect the actual intensity that was on display.

Game 4 - Robust Fawn VS Tie Dynosaurs

The return of Finny and Damo meant good news for Tie Dynosaurs. With their two main players on the team, the Dynosaurs quickly went to work on Robust Fawn with their trademark short game. In the first half, Robust Fawn could do little to stop Tie Dynosaurs defensively and offensively they could do nothing at all.

With experienced handlers such as Palazzi, Zane, and Kramer, Robust Fawn were determined not to go down easily and came out in the second half looking for a way back into the match. They started mixing their game up with short, fluid plays and long throws when the opportunity presented itself.

As a defensive division 1 level player, it will be near impossible to beat Finny when he is sitting deep in the zone unless you are Chris Palazzi. Palazzi, a top-ranked Ultimate player, showed the Tie Dynosaurs just how good he really was with some amazing scoring catches over Finny.

However, the Dynosaurs had built up a comfortable lead, so much so that Finny could afford to take time off to heckle the game beside them and the result was one that would not have surprised many.

Final score: Tie Dynosaurs back on the romp with a 13-7 victory over Robust Fawn.

Game 5 - Grapists  VS Team Riley Smith

Grapists put up a surprisingly good fight against Team Riley Smith (TRS) this week and definitely gave them a run for their money. TRS went into the match with the knowledge that if they win then they win the match they win the Minor Premiership, so they had a lot on the line. However they didn't start the match like a team ready to be champions as Grapists raced to an early 3-1 lead which left captain Ash shaking in his pants.

After a quick pep-talk, TRS managed to turn the game around and take the half 7-4. This game saw both teams running tight man-defenses which meant a lot of running and a lot of tight plays and this match definitely saw it's fair share of blocks and layout defenses. Both offences managed to overcome that by throwing some really good throws in what was and end-to-end game. Once again, TRS girls won the game for them with some really good offensive and defensive plays.

Mad props to Grapists' Bobby Jackson who suffered a fractured wrist halfway through the game but still soldiered on with some insane O and D. Also, shame on you Phil English for letting Sabrina catch a disc over you.

Final score: Team Riley Smith win the Minor Premiership with a 13-8 victory over Grapists.

The finals week are almost upon us and all teams still have a shot at winning the tournament. To the lower-ranked teams, keep your chins up and don't give up! To the top teams, don't get complacent and let your guard down; we all know what happened last season when Green Gobbies and 50 Shades of Hakuna Matata made it to the Grandfinals.

To those who haven't been showing up to games for your team, NOW is the time to change that and help your team's bid to make the finals! Your team NEEDS you, whether you're playing or just on the sideline heckling! (unless you haven't paid your league fees, then you are dead to us. LOL jokes.)

Stay tuned for more exciting updates on the Townsville Ultimate Frisbee League!!!

Townsville Ultimate Disc League Round 6

This week the league served up yet another exciting round of frisbee. All teams have found their groove and synergy and are starting to play some really high level Ultimate. Without further ado, here's this week's wrap up!

Game 1 - Blue Crush VS Grapists

The game that went for the longest this week was also the most spirited. This game featured two teams that were pretty evenly matched in terms of skill level and physical ability but it was Blue Crush that managed to race to a 7-1 lead at half-time. Things looked over for Grapists but they refused to give up and came out firing in the second half. Blue Crush took their foot off the pedal and started making unforced turnovers such as dropping easy catches and throwing away easy passes. Bobby Jackson of Grapists was being an absolute beast on defense and shutting down all of Blue Crush's long puts with huge sky grabs and layout swats. Grapists turned the tide as Blue Crush continued to slip up and managed to wrestle victory away from the blue team.

Final score: Grapists put another W on the board as they beat Blue Crush 13-10 to make it three in a row.

Game 2 - Django Unchained VS Tie Dynosaurs

Talk about a blowout! A Tie Dynosaur team playing without captain Finny AND Damo is like a bunch of babies trying to drive an M1 Abrams tank. Tie Dynosaurs were hopelessly lost and Django Unchained wasted no time taking them apart.

The Dynosaurs played well but the lack of handlers meant that they couldn't complete passes despite their receivers getting into good positions. Josh Phipps had the opportunity to lead the team this week which provided him with a good learning experience.

Final score: Django Unchained sweeps Tie Dynosaurs aside 13-2. I am honestly surprised the Dynosaurs even managed two so I guess they can take this as a moral victory.

Game 3 - Cockwalas VS Seagulls

Cockwalas come back from the break ready to play some frisbee and Dave's boombox busting out war tunes is a sure sign of their seriousness. The game, however, did not start in Cockwalas' favour. Seagulls raced to a 2-0 lead within minutes as Cockwalas struggled to keep up. Even without Deanna, Genge and Rob manage to work the disc well. Seagulls also have an extremely athletic breed of players. Cooper and Renee were catching everything thrown to them which made it extremely difficult for Cockwalas to shut down long puts. Cockwalas managed to put up a fight in the second half but the massive lead established by Seagulls proved too great an obstacle for Cockwalas to overcome.

Final score: Seagulls defeat Cockwalas 13-7 as they maintain their place in second.

Game 4 - Robust Fawn VS Purple Haze

The most exciting game this week saw Purple Haze go up against Robust Fawn. Missing various key players such as James, Ryan, and Swan, Purple Haze did not look ready to play during the warm-up. Stand-in captain Tyson was lamenting his lack of players during the pre-game session. Robust Fawn started the game with a vertical stack offense and the lack of a gust meant that they could work the disc easily up the field. On defense, they played a mongrel man defense which shut down Purple Haze's offense and allowed them to easily race to a 7-1 lead at half-time.

The second half started a little differently; Purple Haze, now warmed up, put on an organised zone defense which forced several turnovers from Robust Fawn and allowed them to score five points in succession to bring the game to 7-6. Tyson found a perfect offensive partner in Bevo and his sweet handling skills combined with Bevo's ridiculous disc-reading helped Purple Haze keep up with Robust Fawn. Purple Haze managed to pull away at 11-11 by scoring to make it 12-11, but Robust Fawn refused to give up what could have been their win and scored a point of their own to make it universe point at 12-12. 

The game winner came when Tyson threw a long bomb which looked like it was going out until Bevo jumped up and caught it above and behind his head to the eruption of cheers from the sideline.

Final score: In the greatest comeback this week, Purple Haze beat Robust Fawn in a hotly-contested match 13-12.

Game 5 - Mitey Discs VS Fluro Fantasy

League leaders Fluro Fantasy take on fourth-placed Mitey Discs in a highly-charged match which saw its fair share of collisions. It was surprising to see Ash and Andy on handling duties because I would have expected the super awesome Riley to be taking up the role. The match started out pretty evenly matched and both teams matched each other point for point throughout some long rallies.

Fluro Fantasy then started being more scrupulous on calling fouls and that gave them the edge in many turnovers. This might have thrown off Mitey Discs a little and disrupted their momentum. However, Mitey Discs dug in and played some sick man-marking defense which forced a Fluro Fantasy to make a fair few incompletions.

The game started to slip away when Mitey Discs started to look disheartened and Fluro Fantasy took full advantage of that as they raced away to yet another victory.

Final score: Fluro Fantasy maintain their unbeaten record with a 12-7 victory over Mitey Discs.

That's all for this week! Stay tuned for more updates on the league; will Purple Haze mount a late season comeback? Will Fluro Fantasy stay unbeaten and win the league this semester? Only time will tell!

Round 4 Preview

Hello Townsvillains! I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter weekend. I know I did, which is why this post took a little longer because let's face it; when you have chocolate eggs buried in your backyard, you drop everything you're doing and dig that delicious confectionery up. And then you proceed to chow down on those goodies and spend the entire day after that wallowing in guilt.

But I have decided to pull myself off my bed, shake off my sugar crash, and bring you guys this week's preview of the games!

Game 1 - Mitey Discs VS Robust Fawn

With the return of Chris Palazzi last week, Robust Fawn have become a very, very strong team. Their victory over Grapists could be a sign of more victories to come. However, their defense needs a little more work because they only won be a mere two points last week.

Mitey Discs are an equally strong team. They have a very consistent core group of players who have been playing together for a long time. Mitey Discs have shown that they are capable of scoring by bringing the game all the way to the wire despite losing last week.

Prediction: This game will come down to which team wants it more. I suspect that Mitey Discs will be hungry for victory especially after a bitter defeat last week. Mitey Discs to win 13-10.

Game 2 - Tie Dynosaurs VS Seagulls

This is the match I look forward to most this week. Tie Dynosaurs have a real chance of shutting down Seagulls' winning run this week. Seagulls are already starting to develop an air of invincibility and many pundits are convinced that they will be unbeatable all the way to the Grandfinals.

I myself am hoping for a Dynosaurs upset. Don't get me wrong, I love the Seagulls and their brand of Ultimate and I think everyone on their team works extremely hard for every point in every game but a defeat for them would make the league even more exciting.

I have personally played on Finny's team before, and I am familiar with his style. Not only is he a great player, he is a great coach as well and he has the ability to coach the best out of his players. Tie Dynosaurs are still finding their feet at the moment but will no doubt become a great side in the near future.

Prediction: This is the best time to play against Tie Dynosaurs; before they find their groove. With Seagulls in a magnificent start-of-the-season form and Dynosaurs still looking shaky, this is no doubt an unlucky time for the Dynosaurs to face the Seagulls. Seagulls to win 13-9.

Game 3 - Django Unchained VS Fluro Fantasy

This will no doubt be the most exciting match this week. Captains James and Ash are friends off the field, but I have a feeling their friendship will be put to the test in this one. Both are extremely competitive and play to win and both have a strong mix of players on their team.

Fluro Fantasy is the only other team to have an unbeaten streak this season and they play a style of Ultimate that is fast from start to finish. This means that they put opposition teams under pressure and will race ahead if given the slightest opportunity to do.

Django Unchained, despite a loss in their first game of the season, have won their previous two encounters. Both times they were down at half-time but started the second half strong to ultimately emerge victors. They are a true representation of "it's not over until the fat lady sings".

Prediction: Last week Django Unchained managed to overcome a 7-2 first-half deficit to win the game. However, I feel that Fluro Fantasy have enough composure to win this game. Fluro Fantasy to win 13-10.

Game 4 - Blue Crush VS Purple Haze

Blue Crush played hard last week and came away with a score that didn't really reflect the effort they put in. They are well-rounded in all aspects of the game; athleticism, speed, and ability but they are turning the discs over too many times. Purple Haze can put on a mean defense, and with players like Ryan and Shane, they have the ability to shut down Blue Crush's long plays.

After an amazing come-from-behind win against Mitey Discs, Purple Haze have shown that they are capable of playing some fluid, flowing frisbee. I foresee that Purple Haze will throw fewer hucks than Blue Crush because they prefer the short game. If they can put together what they did in their last three points last week, Purple Haze will be unstoppable.

Prediction: This is a tough game to call and it will ultimately be won by the team that can find that magical final pass.  A Blue Crush victory is long overdue. However, Purple Haze are simply too mouthwatering at the moment. I predict a 13-8 Purple Haze victory.

Game 5 - Cockwalas VS Grapists

Cockwalas take on under-performing Grapists in the fifth and final game of this week. Cockwalas will definitely be looking to bounce back after last week's cruel loss to Django Unchained. Phangbang will be reprising his role of being a handler this week and is definitely the weak link in an otherwise strong Cockwalas lineup. Expect Cockwalas to play an extremely defensive game and look for the break on turnovers.

Grapists, as I've mentioned before, might be the dark horse this semester. They have shown last week that they are capable of getting the disc into the end-zone, managing to accrue 11 points before succumbing to a defeat against Robust Fawn. They might surprise us this week with a victory against Cockwalas.

Prediction: Grapists have yet to win a single game whereas Cockwalas have won two of their last three. I think that Cockwalas will be able to beat the yet unproven Grapists 13-9 in this game.

I hope everyone's ready to shed all that extra weight they've gained over this Easter weekend because Wednesday promises an even more intense round of Ultimate! With teams having been exposed to the different kinds of setups, there will be more variety in the plays and... who knows what could happen!

Townsville Ultimate Disc League Round 3

I thought I've seen it all in Townsville Ultimate but this week's games offered up some surprises. Huge layouts, intense rallies, surprise comebacks, and even a Callahan were had in Round 3 of the Townsville Ultimate Disc League.

Game 1 - Django Unchained VS Cockwalas

Cockwalas' winning start to the season came to a crushing end last night with a devastating loss to Django Unchained after an intense, epic, and grueling game last night. Cockwalas started the first half in the exact form that saw them win their previous two games. Despite dropping the first two points, Cockwalas quickly regained their composure and organised their zone set-up. Cockwalas found the perfect cup set-up with Mitchell, Josh, and Janelle which put a huge amount of defensive pressure on Django's handlers. The Cockwalas did what they did best on offense with their signature continuation play, which was quick and fluid as usual, and they managed to take the first half 7-2.

Confidence was high in the Cockwalas camp and it looked like they were about to take down another "W". However, do not discount James' ability to rally his team with a half-time pep talk (some say the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson took motivational courses from James).

And rally them he did. Django Unchained came out guns-a-blazin' in the second half and scored five points in succession. Cockwalas were befuddled at this point in time and were unable to come up with an answer. Some would have expected Dehollander to call a time-out but to the surprise of most, he didn't. Cockwalas suffered throughout the second half and matters weren't helped by newbie handler Phangbang dropping more discs than he should and throwing away a couple of easy throws.

Whilst Phangbang and his team were being woefully wasteful on their possessions, Django Unchained fought for every disc. Rob and Rowan, and even newcomer Laurel Zaima, were putting their bodies on the line with sliding catches and lay-outs. Nittya played extremely well in the gut, making well-timed cuts to help Django advance the disc up-field during possession.

Final score: Django Unchained's organisation and patient play helped them make an incredible comeback in the second half. Cockwalas on the other hand looked unsure and were hasty on the disc when they should have been patient and were too lacklustre on turnovers they should have been quick on. 13-9 victory to Django Unchained.

Game 2 - Blue Crush VS Seagulls

Despite losing big man Damo to Tie Dynosaurs in a transfer move, Seagulls were still widely tipped to win this game. However, Blue Crush were determined to prove the pundits wrong and started the game with two quick points by smashing through Seagulls' cup defense as they struggled to adapt a zone set-up.

Seagulls captains Robert and Deanna then made a decision to switch to a more familiar man-marking defense which worked extremely well in their favour and effectively shut down Blue Crush's offense for the rest of the half. Seagulls scored seven points in a row to take down the first half 7-2.

After the half-time break, Seagulls switched back to zone defense in order to familiarise their players with it. Seagulls employed the puppy fence instead of the traditional zone defense and this proved to be very effective in upping the defensive pressure, forcing Blue Crush to drop many crucial passes.

The highlight of the match came when Seagulls' new player Todd scored on a Callahan grab. A Callahan, for those who are not aware, is when a player makes a defensive grab in the opponent's end zone, resulting in a straight point.

Blue Crush were determined to fight back and they upped the ante by putting on a hard zone which allowed them to score three points in quick succession. However, momentum was on Seagulls' side and they managed to hold their ground en route to another victory.

Final score: Although not many would be surprised by the Seagulls' 13-5 victory, the scoreline did not do Blue Crush justice and certainly did not reflect how close the game actually was.

Game 3 - Tie Dynosaurs VS Fluro Fantasy

The game that was tipped to be the most exciting game this week certainly lived up to its hype. Both teams went toe-to-toe from start to finish and it was difficult to tell both teams apart throughout the entire match. Both teams seemed to adapt to the zone well and Fluro Fantasy did well to keep up with Tie Dynosaurs despite not having captain Ash for the first five points. With Fluro Fantasy trailing by one at 3-2, Ash managed to make it to the fields to join his team.

With the addition of Ash, Fluro Fantasy began playing with more gusto and even managed to open up a slight lead. However, Tie Dynosaurs managed to clean up their act and that enabled them to take the first half 7-6.

Both teams came out after half-time looking to reach the magical 13 but it was Fluro Fantasy that looked like they had more energy and enthusiasm. Not much more can be said about Austin, who put his body on the line and pretty much layed-out for anything that looked like it was within a one-mile radius of him. Magical work from Fluro girls on the wings, both on offense and defense, helped Fluro Fantasy outscore the Dynosaurs to reach 11-8 at one point in the second half.

However, you should never let your guard down, especially against the Dynosaurs, as anything can happen. And it was just that; Fluro Fantasy thought they were going to cruise to a victory but the Dynosaurs scored three quickfire points to draw the game at 11-11.

At 11-11, Fluro Fantasy stopped being complacent and started playing better Frisbee by looking for those 100% passes and high percentage hucks and managed to take the lead once more.

Even though Fluro Fantasy are a point away from victory, Tie Dynosaurs can still turn the tide. And things were certainly looking that way until Andy Gosbee managed to break away from Finny on a deep cut. Ash spotted his cutter and hucks a long bomb. All seemed over with deep player Finny 20m away; however, never discount the speed Finny has in those chicken legs. Sprinting his guts out, Finny managed to chase the disc down and get fingertips on it to tip it away from its path. Everyone thought that was the end of that play, but not Andy; he took two steps forward and grabbed the dropping disc with a one-handed lay-out for the winning point and possibly the best layout ever seen in Townsville Ultimate Disc League. The crowd went nuts at that play and that grab definitely wins the play of the day.

Final score: In a match that could have swung either way, it was Fluro Fantasy that showed more grit and mettle to take it 13-11.

Game 4 - Mitey Discs VS Purple Haze

Credits to Purple Haze captain Swan for employing her mind games in this match. When Mattie walked up to her for the toss, she cried: "oh we don't have a lot of players tonight so we won't be able to sub much and our players will probably have to play a lot!" Mitey Discs captain Mattie, in spirit of the game, decided to play with four males and three females throughout the entire game even though they would have fared better with five males and two females.

Even though they weren't playing with their best lineup, Mitey Discs started the game fairly enough. The first few points were all Mitey Discs as they broke through Purple Haze's zone defense to score and boxed in Purple Haze with their own zone defense to limit the Haze's scoring. Mitey Discs were high on confidence at this point and probably fully expected to win.

Purple Haze then introduced a surprise player, Tyson Buhagiar, from Charters Towers. Tyson is rock-solid as a handler and lightning quick as a cutter, plus he has a big physical presence to boot. Tyson helped Purple Haze reorganise itself into the formidable team they were supposed to be and helping them score a few points in succession to bring the score to 10-8 in their favour.

Mattie then decided to switch up his handlers and put himself in a receiver's role to get his middle poppers moving. An extremely bold move by the Reds' captain but one that proved effectively as Mitey Discs took the next four points "boom-boom-boom-boom" to bring the score to 12-10. Victory was just a point away for the Reds at this point and it looked like all hope was lost for Purple Haze!

What happened next went on to shock the players, the spectators, and the pundits alike. Swan worked her charm on her team and what happened next was pure, unadulterated, classic Purple Haze frisbee. Purple Haze were unstoppable as they took the next three points to take the game from right under Mitey Discs's nose!

Final score: Purple Haze with a late rally to win the game 13-12. Easily the most exciting match this week, this is exactly what Ultimate is all about! 10/10 for heart, 10/10 for intensity, 10/10 for spirit and definitely 10/10 for fun!

Game 5 - Robust Fawn VS Grapists

With the return of Chris Palazzi, Robust Fawn added another experienced player to their team. However, Grapists are not without their own key players. Captain Chris Ende is himself an experienced player and excels well as both a handler and a cutter. Brandon Gatzke is good on the disc and extremely fast off it. Big man Phil English is also an adept handler and his ability to read the game is amazing.

Both teams adapted well to the idea of playing zone. The disc was swung brilliantly by the handlers on both sides and cutters were making good cuts into open spaces as well.

Robust Fawn, perhaps with their two experienced players, managed to get the upper hand early in the game. Grapists conceded an early lead to allow Robust Fawn to take the half.

Grapists clawed their way back in the second half and the game got a little physical with a few collisions throughout. However, great spirit was observed as the players would help each other off the ground after a collision. A spirited Grapists performance late in the second half forced Robust Fawn to really work for their last few points.

Final score: Robust Fawn hangs on to emerge 13-11 victors in a game that was somewhat physical. However, great spirit was shown by both teams. Grapists definitely surprised us with their 11 points scored and I have a feeling they might be the league's dark horse this season.

This week featured extremely well-fought and close games. Some teams adapted well to the zone and some teams took a little more time to get their zone going. It is now up to the captains to decide which strategy works best for them. Next week promises an even more exciting round of games with teams possibly mixing up zone with man. 

Round 3 Preview

Round 3 of Townsville Ultimate action is almost upon us and now that we're two weeks in, it gives us a better idea of the teams and how they might perform. With that being said, here's an "expert's" predictions on this week's matches.

Game 1 - Django Unchained VS Cockwalas

Now this is an interesting game to watch. If you have been following this blog, you will know that, even though they lost in Round 1, James David's Django Unchained are a force to be reckoned with. But Cockwalas have two wins under their belt and they will look to continue their winning form.

With Rowan Hall and Gibbo back in the line-up after missing the first game and new addition Aaron Hynds, Django Unchained have a strong team in terms of physicality and athleticism. Defensively, Django Unchained will undoubtedly shut down Cockwalas' long game with captain and world-record high jumper James David sitting deep.

However Cockwalas are not without a few threats of their own. Big man Josh McIntyre is fast developing into an all-round Ultimate player that possesses speed, height, and physical prowess. Cockwalas also feature a hardworking female line-up with Laura Knecht bringing with her the experience of the previous semester and Chi MaGee's excellent reading of the game together with the engines Sheona, Biz, and Janelle. Cockwalas are capable of working the disc even without captain Dave Dehollander.

Prediction: This is a tough game to predict, if Cockwalas maintain their form, they will be "bringing it" and will be looking to upset Django Unchained. However, Django Unchained looks too formidable at the moment with James, Gibbo, Aaron, and Rowan and I predict a 13-8 victory for them.

Game 2 - Blue Crush VS Seagulls

Arguably the strongest team at the moment, Seagulls have blown away all their competition in the league thus far. The morale in the team will undoubtedly be extremely high this week following their previous two victories. Expect them to come out in force once again with captain Robert Dehollander and up-and-coming Australian Ultimate star Deanna Finn dictating the pace.

After a promising start to the season, Blue Crush succumbed to Fluro Fantasy in Round 2 after an exciting match that went down to the wire. I'm sure Timmy and his team will be looking to bounce back after last week's defeat. I predict a few long plays will be seen in this match with Timmy looking for the speedy Rob Davies on those puts. New players Torunn Lervik and Miguel Yagual look extremely promising for Blue Crush and you can expect them to bring their A-game.

Prediction: Blue Crush look determined to erase the memories of last week's defeat but I think Seagulls' excellent form will see them take this game 13-9.

Game 3 - Tie Dynosaurs VS Fluro Fantasy

A clash between the Tye Dynosaurs and Fluro Fantasy see two of the best handlers in the league Finny and Ash go up against each other. The Dynosaur's captain Finny will be looking to employ the short give-and-go game with his team, a play he has perfected over the years which many other teams still find difficult to beat. With the introduction of the zone, expect to find Finny sitting deep and cutting off the opponents' long plays whilst organising his defense. Josh Phipps of the Dynosaurs has been working on his handling game and inside sources reveal that he can throw a bullet of a flick; which will be useful if Dynosaurs' receivers manage to get on the end of them.

On the other hand, Fluro Fantasy captain Ash will have an array of tricks up his sleeves. Backhand, forehand, hammer, scoober, thumber; you name it and you can expect Ash to use it. Sabrina Beer, who scored five points in the first round but had to sit out against Blue Crush due to an illness is expected to make a comeback. Captain "Ash" has labelled her his "go-to-girl", and you don't need a cryptologist to tell you what that means

Prediction: Another tough game to predict, this game promises excitement for start to finish. I suspect the teams will match each other point for point but I think Finny's tactical experience will give Tie Dynosaurs the edge in this one. Dynosaurs to win 13-11.

Game 4 - Mitey Discs VS Purple Haze

With probably one of the strongest female line-ups in the league, Purple Haze will be looking to beat the Mitey Discs this week after their encouraging performance against Django Unchained in Round 2. There are no stand-out players in Purple Haze but as a team, they are certainly impressive. Aline and captain Swan will be looking to dominate Mitey Discs' female players. Purple Haze pack a pretty strong male line-up as well, featuring the speed of Shane, as well as the physical presence of James Murr and captain Ryan.

Physically, Mitey Discs aren't the best team in the league. However, Ultimate is not about physicality but more about skill, and teamwork; something which Mitey Discs possess in abundance. After last week's glorious victory against Tie Dynosaurs, Mitey Discs will want to ride on the euphoria of the previous week to another victory. In an exclusive interview, Purple Haze captain Swan revealed that she will be poaching a lot and the Mitey Discs will definitely want to take advantage of that.

Prediction: With the introduction of the zone defense, I think Purple Haze, with their slight height advantage, will be able to take this game 13-10.

Game 5 - Robust Fawn VS Grapists

Perhaps the most fortuitous match-up this week. The last game of Round 3 features two teams who have lost in the previous round. Expect Red, Andy, Nathan, and captain Kramer of Robust Fawn to come out playing this week after last week's unfortunate loss. Handling specialist Zane Quinn will once again look to utilise his experience and handling skills to swing this game in his team's favour.

After a disappointing start to the season with two losses, Grapists will want to erase the memories of their previous games and get their season started this week. Hopefully captain Chris "Jazzy McGee" Ende will have sorted out tactics for his team and be able to find one that suits Grapists best.

Prediction: Although I really want a Grapists victory, I can't see that happening this week. Robust Fawn to win it 13-6.

I look forward to another exciting week of Ultimate. If I didn't tip your team to win, it's because the laws of the great state of Queensland state that pundits must be "professional and impartial in their predictions". Remember, however, that everyone loves an underdog win so let's go and play some disc!