Hey ho frisbee flingers! I hope everyone had a lovely and relaxing lecture recess because Ultimate action is set to resume this week. All the teams look really strong and it will be a very close race to the end of the season.
Game 1 - Blue Crush VS Grapists
Both teams in game 1 of this week have enjoyed a good run of late. Blue Crush are really starting to come together as a solid team and the players are improving in terms of skill level. Grapists won their first two games in the previous week and they are hungry for more.
Both teams are capable of working the disc but Blue Crush throw more hucks; a strategy which works well for them because they have many players capable of running down the disc and making the completion. Grapists, on the other hand, prefer to play the short game and like to "walk the disc in".
Grapists, however, need to find the elusive final pass. As a team they work the disc up the field well, but the final catch in the end-zone has always been their Achilles' heel. With only three games to go, they have to make better completions if they want to make it to the Grand-finals.
Prediction: Blue Crush to win 13-10.
Game 2 - Django Unchained VS Tie Dynosaurs
I hate to say it but the Dynosaurs are going to have their work cut out for them. Captain Finny will be away "chasing Nationals glory" with Slamtown which means Tie Dynosaurs won't have an experienced handler. Will Damo be able to step up to the plate, or can Josh Phipps fill in in the absence of Finny? As far as receivers go, Dynosaurs have a pretty solid lineup featuring the likes of Lucas, Jessup, Corrie, and the super beastly Julianna who will catch everything thrown to her.
Django Unchained currently lie eighth in the table, which is surprising. However, their current position belies the true abilities of the team. The absence of Dynosaurs captain Finny means that this is the perfect time for Django to mount a comeback in their season.
Prediction: Django Unchained to sweep aside Tie Dynosaurs 13-6.
Game 3 - Cockwalas VS Seagulls
Cockwalas have suffered a slip in form recently when they lost both of their games last week. What started off as a promising season has slowed down for the green marsupials. The loss of Phangbang through injury was just too much for the team as they were cut down to just one handler. There have been rumours of a Cockwalas training camp being held over lecture recess but nobody knows for sure. What is certain is that if Cockwalas don't pick up the pace soon they'll be out of running for a shot at the Grand-finals.
Seagulls were defeated in the last round by Fluro Fantasy and this will be their first match after the loss. Will they be able to bounce back or will the season slip away from them? Interestingly, the captains of both teams happen to be brothers; will Dave prevail or will Rob be able to put one over his older brother?
Prediction: Cockwalas will struggle against a fully-fit Seagulls team. I think Seagulls will take this one 13-7.
Game 4 - Robust Fawn VS Purple Haze
Last place Purple Haze take on Robust Fawn in this one. Purple Haze will be missing one of their captains Swan as she heads to the Nationals but the team will be helmed by the other co-captain Ryan and Tyson. The wind and rain might have affected Purple Haze's performance in the last round but if conditions are good, expect them to come out firing and looking to get out of the last place.
Robust Fawn is one of the teams that is really starting to come together this season. Led by Chris Palazzi, Kramer, and Zane, the team has an incredible throwing and catching game. Definitely one of the speediest teams in the league at the moment, Robust Fawn will look to go deep if they can.
Prediction: If conditions are right, Purple Haze will be able to put up a strong fight against a well-synergised Robust Fawn side. However, I think this game will ultimately go in Robust Fawn's favour 13-9.
Game 5 - Mitey Discs VS Fluro Fantasy
What can I say about this game other than the fact that Riley will dominate? With new experience from Division 2 Nationals, Riley is now super confident in his abilities as a handler. But he is still unproven on the fields and his ability to stick it in the hole is still very questionable. Will he be able to extend Fluro Fantasy's winning run or will Fluro suffer their first defeat this week under the hands of Mitey Discs?
Not a team that really attracts a ton of attention, Mitey Discs have been somewhat consistent in their performances and now sit comfortably in fourth. Teams that don't take them seriously will be in for a big surprise because Mitey Discs work hard and they will make you pay if you are complacent.
Prediction: Fluro Fantasy to extend their winning run with a 13-9 victory over Mitey Discs.
Remember that the day after this week's games is ANZAC day. So don't be in a hurry to go home; hang around, chill out, talk to people from other teams, and get your party on!!!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Nationals Division Two Men's Open
Townsville Ultimate! Sorry there has been no previews/reviews this week. Things deviated from the norm when the league decided to play two games on Wednesday instead of the usual one and it was just too much to keep track of all the games. Plus I had to go down to Melbourne to cover Townsvillains in the Nationals Division Two Men's Ultimate Tournament. This tournament saw a fair few Villains veterans participate and it also featured rookies Riley Smith and Josh Mcintyre in their first tournament. The Villains team also had the opportunity, and luck, to recruit players from Brisbane like Ashley Donaldson, Dan Cohen, Brenton "Moto" Mottershead, Luke "Staarky" Lynch, Tim Webb, Keegan Miskimmin, Tyson Buhagiar and Slamtown veteran Alistair Don. All in all the Villains were packing a pretty strong line-up and were ready to bring the heat to grey and windy Melbourne.
Day 1
Game 1 - Townsvillains VS Funny Duck
Townsvillains win 11-9
The first game of any tournament is always testy. Teams will be fresh on the field and looking to assess their opponent's ability and this game was no different. Funny Duck started strong enough and took two points right off the bat and left the Villains pondering their chances in the tournament. Thankfully it was just a sluggish start. The Villains quickly hit back and managed to tie the game up 2-2. After that it was a point-for-point rally between the two teams as they tried to pry the downwind break point from the other team. The Villains managed to hold on to a slender lead and went into half-time 8-7 up. The second half saw more of the same rallies but the Villains ability to switch between a vertical stack offense and a horizontal stack offense kept Funny Duck guessing and prevented them from getting into their groove. Although a little hesitant at first (maybe because of the wind), the Villains eventually started looking for open long puts and managed to stick them. It was an exciting point-for-point exchange until the Villains managed to pull away at 10-8. It looked like victory was within grasp but Funny Duck somehow managed to steal a break point and had the advantage playing offense downwind with the score at a nail-biting 10-9. However, the Villains managed to keep their wits about them and were able to take the game 11-9 at the end of the time-cap.
Game 2 - Townsvillains VS Head of State (HoS)
Townsvillains win 12-10
Townsville once again started extremely sluggishly in this match. Maybe they let their first victory get to their heads and allowed HoS to go 6-1 up within 15 minutes of the game. Morale was low in the Villains camp at this point and the players thought that the match would be over soon. However, Finny decided to make a radical call and play a puppy-cup defense. It was a bold move cotton, I can tell you that, but it certainly paid off. HoS, perhaps getting a little too complacent with their early lead, crumbled under the pressure put on by the puppy-cup. The tides were turned and the Villains soon had complete control of the game and put in point after point to lead 8-6 at half-time. The second half saw more of the same plays with the Villains' puppy-cup forcing turnovers from HoS. The match should have been over when Tyson managed to intercept a swing pass from HoS handlers in the end-zone but he failed to convert a two-handed Callahan grab (he tried to grab it but it slipped out from his grasp). If he had managed to do that it would've been morale-crushing for HoS and the Villains would've stomped all over them. Although HoS managed to score four more points, the Villains were in too comfortable a position to lose and they were able to win the game at the end of the time-cap.
Game 3 - Townsvillains VS Karma
Karma win 15-7
Game 3 took place after lunch. Everyone was feeling a little sluggish, lost 15-7. Villains played hard but just couldn't come away with a result. Nothing much else to comment on.
Day 2
Game 4 - Townsvillains VS Duff Punk
Townsvillains win 13-12
As usual, the Villains started this match slow and allowed Duff Punk to score some quick points to go 4-0 up. Villains tried different set-ups but were unable to to catch up to Duff Punk and ended up trailing 8-3 at half-time. Chins were pretty down at this point but Finny and Al put in a good half-time pep-talk to light the fire in the team once again. Villains put on a tight man-mark and went mongrel on the Duff Punk boys to really pressure them into throwing away the disc which the Villains gladly capitalised on. Duff Punk held the lead by one point for most of the point but Townsvillains managed to draw the game at 12-12 to bring the game to universe point. A forced turnover and a good put saw the Villains take down this match to win 13-12. A lot of bold calls were made in this match which went in the Villains's favour but still, they took every chance they had and played extra hard to earn this victory.
Game 5 - Townsvillains VS Wild Chilly
Townsvillains win 15-8
This was an important one for the Villains because it determined if they would make it to the semi-finals of the tournament. The Chilly team are a pretty well-known team in Melbourne and their first team recently came second in the Brisbane-Canberra Invitational. So despite this being a third-string team, the Villains were still cautious going into this match and had to make sure they did not get overly complacent. The game started in a surprising manner as Townsvillains went up 4-0 before Wild Chilly called a timeout. For the first time in their tournament, the Villains were not the first team to call a timeout and morale was high in the team huddle and everyone was sure of themselves. After the timeout, the Villains came out looking to score another point but Wild Chilly surprised them but putting one on the scoreboard to make the score 4-1. Townsvillains were still pretty confident at this point and thought "hey no big deal we've got a decent lead". The Villains managed to put a few more points on the board but Wild Chilly managed to get a few break points of their own. Townsvillains then decided to put on a strong offensive line to close out the game. An easy game and a well-deserved win to earn a spot in the semifinals.
Semifinals - Townsvillains VS Nova
Nova win 13-8
The semifinals of the Division Two Nationals Men's Open saw Townsvillains go up against a Kiwi team from Wellington. The Villains wanted to bring the heat against a Kiwi team that were used to the wind and rain and cold. That was, however, not the case. They put an extremely hard mark on Finny who had a been a beast as a receiver in previous games. Maybe they scouted a few of the Villains games before and saw Finny in action, we'll never know; all we know is they had their best defender not more than a meter away from Finny all game long. Nova managed to establish a lead and the Villains had trouble catching up and eventually lost the semifinals.
3rd/4th place playoffs - Townsvillains VS Ballarat Ultimate
Townsvillains win 13-8
The game of truth. Will the Villains go home with a bronze medal or empty-handed? When the horn sounded to signal the start of the match, both teams were still finishing up their lunches so it was perhaps fortuitous that the Villains weren't going to be the only team that would start the game without warm-up. The Villains started the match strongly by scoring two points to take a 2-0 lead but Ballarat quickly evened up by scoring two after. The match then went point for point with Townsvillains keeping the lead but the Villains eventually managed to snatch a break point to lead 8-6 at half-time. The second half saw more of the same exchange until Ashley Donaldson, who injured himself in the first game and had to sit out most of the tournament, made a surprising comeback into the lineup. Some swift passing saw the Villains move the disc to the edge of Ballarat's end-zone before Ashley Donaldson made a cut to the back left corner and Al Don hit him with a backhand huck. It looked like a sure turnover as the huck was floaty and two Ballarat defenders converged on the disc but Ashley managed to jump over both of them and grabbed the disc one-handed for the point. He proceeded to spike the disc while still falling and the sideline erupted in cheers. That play might have given the Villains the extra momentum they needed as they raced away to take the game 13-8!
Villains take home the bronze in an amazing, frisbee-filled weekend that was fueled by jagerbombs, jars, buckets, and buffalo wings. Finny was awarded tournament MVP and Alistair Don was the first runner-up in the MVP awards. Kudos to their amazing performances on the field and congratulations to both of them. Townsvillains would also like to thank all Brisbane players for joining the team, as well as an unforgettable weekend!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Photos from Round 2: Django Unchained VS Cockwalas
Here are some photos from Game 1 of Round 2 featuring Django Unchained and Cockwalas:
(The game is go!)
(Django Unchained putting on a mean zone)
(David Dehollander trying to break the cup)
(Tiffany Alling of Django Unchained putting on the pressure)
(The game is go!)(Django Unchained putting on a mean zone)(David Dehollander trying to break the cup)(Tiffany Alling of Django Unchained putting on the pressure)Saturday, April 6, 2013
Townsville Ultimate Disc League Round 4
Game 1 - Mitey Discs VS Robust Fawn
Game one of this week saw a hard fought contest between the red Mitey Discs and orange Robust Fawn. Robust Fawn started the game with a killer cup on defense, knocking floaty passes out of the air left and right. Robust Fawn managed to edge out Mitey Discs in the first half and lead 7-6 at half-time.
The second half saw more back-and-forth play between the two teams as the exchanged points. However, Mitey Discs managed to gain the upper-hand with the score tied at 10-10 to race away to a victory.
Final score: Mitey Discs with a second half come back to win the game 13-10.
Game 2 - Tie Dynosaurs VS Seagulls
Game two saw the Finns face off against each other in a tightly contested match. Brother Finny took on sister Deanna as Tie Dynosaurs look to take down Seagulls. Dynosaurs started the game fairly strong and were 2-0 up in minutes. However, Seagulls quickly evened it up and manage to take the first half 7-5. Seagulls' players were extremely energetic and were running full speed all game, keeping a tight man-mark on the Dynosaurs and making Finny work hard than usual.
Tie Dynosaurs showed plenty of patience on the disc and threw a fair few stall-nine conversions.
Scott Adams, a new player from New Zealand, showed us how good he is with his handling skills and he even managed to throw a stall-nine hammer conversion over Rob Dehollander (those albatross arms). Ross and Damo were absolute beasts on those deep cuts on offense and superb playing in the gut in defense. Grace, Tonje, and Corrie were also making amazing cuts throughout the game.
Seagulls managed to stretch the lead to four at 9-5 but Dynosaurs rallied and managed to tie it up at 11-all. It was anyone's game at this point and both teams were going for the win. Damo made an insane lay-out catch which was called out and that might have given Seagulls the psychological edge.
Final score: After an intense and exciting match, Seagulls manage to beat Tie Dynosaurs 13-11 and take their unbeaten streak to four.
Game 3 - Django Unchained VS Fluro Fantasy
Fluro Fantasy are quickly establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the league, and a victory over Django Unchained on Wednesday has further solidified their position at the top of the table. Fluro Fantasy used a mixture of zone and man defense to keep Django guessing and to prevent rethem from adapting to any one style.
Despite Django's best efforts, Fluro Fantasy continued to pile on the pressure and stretched the lead further and further. But Django refused to give in that easily and played their hearts out.
Final score: This match was so intense and hard fought that it didn't even make it to 13 points. Fluro Fantasy managed to beat Django Unchained on the time-cap rule 12-6.
Game 4 - Blue Crush VS Purple Haze
The only upset this week came in Game Four when Blue Crush put one over Purple Haze. Blue Crush had to play with two girls - Torunn "Valkryie Beast" Lervik and Caroline "Madison" Broshat - the entire game due to no-shows from the rest but they put in the most hardworking performance I've ever seen. Blue Crush, perhaps fired up by their girls, put on an impressive and merciless performance in the first half and managed to lead 8-2 at half-time.
During the half-time team-talk, Purple Haze rallied and talk tactics and managed to put up a fight at the beginning of the second half with three quick points that left Blue Crush scrambling for answers. However, captain Timmy's sly team tactics proved too much for Purple Haze.
Final score: Blue Crush "crushed" Purple Haze 13-6 to record their second win of the season.
Game 5 - Cockwalas VS Grapists
This game started off with plenty of promise but became one-sided in the second half. Both teams were fighting toe-to-toe for the lead in the first half with Cockwalas taking the lead at certain points and Grapists taking the the lead at other times. Grapists had a distinct advantage in the handling department; it was Jazzy, Phil, and Brandon up against Dave Dehollander; and they used it to their advantage in the half. With a distinct height advantage, they managed to swing the disc around the line of scrimmage and break the cup when forced to the sidelines. Excellent give-and-go play was seen between Jazzy and Phil and their partnership is really starting to flourish. Cockwalas managed to take the first half 7-6 but their cup was run ragged.
Cockwalas captain Dave then decided to change their defensive set-up by switching to a man-marking system and it proved to work in Cockwalas' favour. New signing Paul Martin brought his rugby experience to to the team and his positioning and cuts helped Cockwalas both on attack and defense. Cockwalas put on a tight man-mark on Grapists' players (except Dave who was repeatedly trying to poach Phil) and that really shut down Grapist's handling game despite Grapists' Josh Stine's and Emily's best effort to get into good positions.
Final score: Cockwalas' man-marking defensive set-up really helped them in the second half and they managed to win 13-7. Side note: this is Nickers' last game of the season and the league wishes her all the best and hopefully we'll see her back next season!
Game one of this week saw a hard fought contest between the red Mitey Discs and orange Robust Fawn. Robust Fawn started the game with a killer cup on defense, knocking floaty passes out of the air left and right. Robust Fawn managed to edge out Mitey Discs in the first half and lead 7-6 at half-time.
The second half saw more back-and-forth play between the two teams as the exchanged points. However, Mitey Discs managed to gain the upper-hand with the score tied at 10-10 to race away to a victory.
Final score: Mitey Discs with a second half come back to win the game 13-10.
Game 2 - Tie Dynosaurs VS Seagulls
Game two saw the Finns face off against each other in a tightly contested match. Brother Finny took on sister Deanna as Tie Dynosaurs look to take down Seagulls. Dynosaurs started the game fairly strong and were 2-0 up in minutes. However, Seagulls quickly evened it up and manage to take the first half 7-5. Seagulls' players were extremely energetic and were running full speed all game, keeping a tight man-mark on the Dynosaurs and making Finny work hard than usual.
Tie Dynosaurs showed plenty of patience on the disc and threw a fair few stall-nine conversions.
Scott Adams, a new player from New Zealand, showed us how good he is with his handling skills and he even managed to throw a stall-nine hammer conversion over Rob Dehollander (those albatross arms). Ross and Damo were absolute beasts on those deep cuts on offense and superb playing in the gut in defense. Grace, Tonje, and Corrie were also making amazing cuts throughout the game.
Seagulls managed to stretch the lead to four at 9-5 but Dynosaurs rallied and managed to tie it up at 11-all. It was anyone's game at this point and both teams were going for the win. Damo made an insane lay-out catch which was called out and that might have given Seagulls the psychological edge.
Final score: After an intense and exciting match, Seagulls manage to beat Tie Dynosaurs 13-11 and take their unbeaten streak to four.
Game 3 - Django Unchained VS Fluro Fantasy
Fluro Fantasy are quickly establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the league, and a victory over Django Unchained on Wednesday has further solidified their position at the top of the table. Fluro Fantasy used a mixture of zone and man defense to keep Django guessing and to prevent rethem from adapting to any one style.
Despite Django's best efforts, Fluro Fantasy continued to pile on the pressure and stretched the lead further and further. But Django refused to give in that easily and played their hearts out.
Final score: This match was so intense and hard fought that it didn't even make it to 13 points. Fluro Fantasy managed to beat Django Unchained on the time-cap rule 12-6.
Game 4 - Blue Crush VS Purple Haze
The only upset this week came in Game Four when Blue Crush put one over Purple Haze. Blue Crush had to play with two girls - Torunn "Valkryie Beast" Lervik and Caroline "Madison" Broshat - the entire game due to no-shows from the rest but they put in the most hardworking performance I've ever seen. Blue Crush, perhaps fired up by their girls, put on an impressive and merciless performance in the first half and managed to lead 8-2 at half-time.
During the half-time team-talk, Purple Haze rallied and talk tactics and managed to put up a fight at the beginning of the second half with three quick points that left Blue Crush scrambling for answers. However, captain Timmy's sly team tactics proved too much for Purple Haze.
Final score: Blue Crush "crushed" Purple Haze 13-6 to record their second win of the season.
Game 5 - Cockwalas VS Grapists
This game started off with plenty of promise but became one-sided in the second half. Both teams were fighting toe-to-toe for the lead in the first half with Cockwalas taking the lead at certain points and Grapists taking the the lead at other times. Grapists had a distinct advantage in the handling department; it was Jazzy, Phil, and Brandon up against Dave Dehollander; and they used it to their advantage in the half. With a distinct height advantage, they managed to swing the disc around the line of scrimmage and break the cup when forced to the sidelines. Excellent give-and-go play was seen between Jazzy and Phil and their partnership is really starting to flourish. Cockwalas managed to take the first half 7-6 but their cup was run ragged.
Cockwalas captain Dave then decided to change their defensive set-up by switching to a man-marking system and it proved to work in Cockwalas' favour. New signing Paul Martin brought his rugby experience to to the team and his positioning and cuts helped Cockwalas both on attack and defense. Cockwalas put on a tight man-mark on Grapists' players (except Dave who was repeatedly trying to poach Phil) and that really shut down Grapist's handling game despite Grapists' Josh Stine's and Emily's best effort to get into good positions.
Final score: Cockwalas' man-marking defensive set-up really helped them in the second half and they managed to win 13-7. Side note: this is Nickers' last game of the season and the league wishes her all the best and hopefully we'll see her back next season!
Monday, April 1, 2013
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!
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!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
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.
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.
Monday, March 25, 2013
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!
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!
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Let's Talk Zone
Week three of Townsville Ultimate Disc League is always abuzz with excitement and anticipation because this is the week where teams will begin incorporating zone offenses and defenses.
Are you tired of jumping into the stack every time a pass is made? Is chasing a player who seems like he has ingested the red blood cells of a million young puppies exhausting? If you answered yes to these questions, then you most likely will look forward to playing zone.
What exactly is "zone" you ask? Well put some ice in your shirt and cool your tits because that's what I'm here to do in the first place.
Let's talk about zone offense first. A traditional zone offense will have three handlers, two wing players, and two players in the middle.
Are you tired of jumping into the stack every time a pass is made? Is chasing a player who seems like he has ingested the red blood cells of a million young puppies exhausting? If you answered yes to these questions, then you most likely will look forward to playing zone.
What exactly is "zone" you ask? Well put some ice in your shirt and cool your tits because that's what I'm here to do in the first place.
Let's talk about zone offense first. A traditional zone offense will have three handlers, two wing players, and two players in the middle.
In case you are confused, here's a really simplified diagram of a zone offense. Players 1, 2, and 3 are the handlers, players 4 and 5 are the poppers in the middle, and players 6 and 7 are your wingers. I could go on to tell you what the roles of each player is, what cuts each player should make and when they should make it but I think I will leave that task to your captains.
Defense is the best form of offense, or so they say, and having a good zone offense will all be for naught if your defense can't keep up. Zone defense has almost the same positions set up as zone offense in the sense that you will having three players running the "cup", two on the wings, one in the middle and one sitting deep.
Notice how players 1, 2, and 3 of the blue team are surrounding or "cupping" the handler of the red team. Their job is to prevent them from throwing to the "break" side, i.e. force them to throw to the side of the field that your team is forcing. As for the other players, I think your captains can explain their roles better than I can.
That's if for Let's Talk Zone. I hope everyone's fresh and eagerly anticipating Wednesday for another round of exciting Ultimate action!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Townsville Ultimate Disc League Round 2
Here's Week 2's review of the games!
Game 1 - Robust Fawn VS Cockwalas
Cockwalas VS Robust Fawn was an interesting game, with three players fatigued but fresh with new experience from Northern Regionals going head to head. Both teams have extremely athletic players and this match was always going to be fast-paced from start to finish.
Robust Fawn started strongly and raced to a two-point lead within the first ten minutes with backhand specialist Zane Quinn dictating the play but Cockwalas rallied which led to a long and grueling third point. Cockwalas then picked up momentum with captain Dave Dehollander utilising the wind to huck the disc which was chased down by speedsters Mitchell and David Phang; a tactic which worked well for the Cockwalas and saw them take the first half 7-4.
The second half saw a much closer contest as Robust Fawn began to play with more spirit and confidence. Cockwalas, not surprisingly, decided to run the same play that helped them take the first half, employing Dehollander's strong throwing hand and the speed of Mitchell and Phangbang. However, Robust Fawn were ready for this and had their own bunch of speedsters in Andy, Nathan, and Red. Captain Michael Kramer closed down Dehollander's long looks with tight marks which forced Cockwalas to play a shorter game.
Final score: After a hard fought game, Cockwalas took the game 13-9. Both teams displayed their physical prowess and it will be interesting to see where their potential takes them.
Game 2 - Blue Crush VS Fluro Fantasy
Game 2 of this week saw a match-up between the Blue Crush and Fluro Fantasy. Fluro Fantasy have a strong lineup featuring the superior handling skills of captain Ashley O'Sullivan and Andy Gosbee, and the strong physical presence of Riley. However, Blue Crush have their own big man in the form of Timmy Roland. They also have agility and speed of Rob Davies on their side as well as some hardworking, ass-busting female players!
The whole match was evenly matched and the first half was taken by Fluro Fantasy through two break points. However Blue Crush started the second half strong and managed to take two break points of their own to tie the game 7-7. Both teams then went point for point and during this exchange the match saw both captains look for long options. However, the wind proved to be an obstacle as hucks were misthrown and discs were dropped. Wind or no wind though, let us not take anything away from Wes Monts who ran down and caught a full-field Hammer with a glorious dive at the scoreline. At 10-10, Fluro Fantasy rallied and strategically took down the last three points to race to a victory.
Final score: In a very closely fought game, Fluro Fantasy managed to edge out Blue Crush to a 13-10 victory. Side note; Aggie Dehollander needs to start catching the disc and stop flirting with Riley!
Game 3 - Seagulls VS Grapists
Talk about a shutdown! Only one team turned up for this match and no prizes for guessing which. Seagulls, high on last week's victory over Django Unchained, looked to make it two in a row with a victory over Grapists. With experienced handlers such as Deanna Finn and Robert Dehollander, Grapists would've found it difficult to stop Seagulls working the disc up the field and they did. Seagulls looked dangerous as they swung the disc back and forth among the team and up the field with fluid and precise efficiency.
Not only did the Seagulls bring the heat in offense, they set up an ice wall of a defense. A tight man-marking defensive play saw Seagulls limit Grapists to only two points in the whole match. To be fair to the Grapists, they managed to work the disc up the field a number of times but just couldn't find that last pass. Or they would have the disc and get too hasty and throw it away.
Final score: Seagulls with an overwhelming 13-2 victory over Grapists. It will be exciting to see the Deanna-Rob partnership develop over this season. Grapists definitely have great potential and all they need is a little more practice and patience on the field and I dare say they'll be a force to be reckoned with!
Game 4 - Django Unchained VS Purple Haze
To be honest I wasn't expecting Purple Haze to put up a fight in this one, which was why it surprised me when they went point for point with Django Unchained. Captains Liss "Swan" Bowden and Ryan Miller kept Purple Haze tight and organised and surprised the pundits even more by snatching two quick points at the end of the first half to seal it 7-6.
Now for those of you who aren't aware, James David's black team has always been imposing throughout the seasons. With their inspiring all black kit and formidable field presence, some have compared the All Blacks to James' teams and have said that's how the Kiwis got inspired. Thus when Purple Haze took the lead at half-time, most neutrals were salivating for an upset.
But alas, tonight was not the night Django Unchained would be denied. They came out steamrolling in the second half and scored a couple of quick points right off the bat. Maybe that had a psychological impact on Purple Haze because it appeared as if they switched off for the second half which allowed Django Unchained to completely neutralise the Purple Haze offense and power to a victory.
Final score: In a game that held so much promise for Purple Haze, Django Unchained managed to hold on and emerge as 13-7 victors.
Game 5 - Tie Dynosaurs VS Mitey Discs
A meeting of two friends turned into a battle of two enemies in the Ultimate arena. Long time friends and captains of their respective teams Matthew "Finny" Finn and Matt Hamilton went up against each other in Round 2 of Townsville Ultimate League.
The first half saw an efficient Tie Dynosaur side methodically picking apart a careless Mitey Discs side. Finny used his incredible handling abilities to swing the disc back and forth between his team and this allowed the Dynosaurs to quickly work their way up the field and score some quick points to take the first half 7-3. Mitey Discs were dispirited and thought that the first half was the beginning of the end of their game, and the Dynosaurs thought they had the game in the bag.
How wrong they were! Mitey Discs came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and we soon had a game on our hands. With 10 minutes left on the clock, Mitey Discs managed to tie the game up at 11-11 and two subsequent quickfire points ensured victory for Mitey Discs. What a day it was for the Mitey Discs and what a great victory it was for captain Matt Hamilton to be able to put one over Finny!
Final score: Mitey Disc came back miraculously to beat Tie Dynosaurs 13-11. A high intensity game was played by both teams all the way to the finish and rock solid performances were put in by all the players. In the words of Mattie Hamilton: "The Huddle stank but that's when you know everyone gave it their all!".
It was great to see the spirit everyone brought with them and the heart they put into training and playing. We will be introducing the zone offense and defense next week and it should be interesting to see the teams adapt and adopt the strategies which suit them best. That's all we have for you for this week's games. Check this space for fixtures and pundits' predictions of Round 3 of the Townsville Ultimate League. Until next time, see ya!
Game 1 - Robust Fawn VS Cockwalas
Cockwalas VS Robust Fawn was an interesting game, with three players fatigued but fresh with new experience from Northern Regionals going head to head. Both teams have extremely athletic players and this match was always going to be fast-paced from start to finish.
Robust Fawn started strongly and raced to a two-point lead within the first ten minutes with backhand specialist Zane Quinn dictating the play but Cockwalas rallied which led to a long and grueling third point. Cockwalas then picked up momentum with captain Dave Dehollander utilising the wind to huck the disc which was chased down by speedsters Mitchell and David Phang; a tactic which worked well for the Cockwalas and saw them take the first half 7-4.
The second half saw a much closer contest as Robust Fawn began to play with more spirit and confidence. Cockwalas, not surprisingly, decided to run the same play that helped them take the first half, employing Dehollander's strong throwing hand and the speed of Mitchell and Phangbang. However, Robust Fawn were ready for this and had their own bunch of speedsters in Andy, Nathan, and Red. Captain Michael Kramer closed down Dehollander's long looks with tight marks which forced Cockwalas to play a shorter game.
Final score: After a hard fought game, Cockwalas took the game 13-9. Both teams displayed their physical prowess and it will be interesting to see where their potential takes them.
Game 2 - Blue Crush VS Fluro Fantasy
Game 2 of this week saw a match-up between the Blue Crush and Fluro Fantasy. Fluro Fantasy have a strong lineup featuring the superior handling skills of captain Ashley O'Sullivan and Andy Gosbee, and the strong physical presence of Riley. However, Blue Crush have their own big man in the form of Timmy Roland. They also have agility and speed of Rob Davies on their side as well as some hardworking, ass-busting female players!
The whole match was evenly matched and the first half was taken by Fluro Fantasy through two break points. However Blue Crush started the second half strong and managed to take two break points of their own to tie the game 7-7. Both teams then went point for point and during this exchange the match saw both captains look for long options. However, the wind proved to be an obstacle as hucks were misthrown and discs were dropped. Wind or no wind though, let us not take anything away from Wes Monts who ran down and caught a full-field Hammer with a glorious dive at the scoreline. At 10-10, Fluro Fantasy rallied and strategically took down the last three points to race to a victory.
Final score: In a very closely fought game, Fluro Fantasy managed to edge out Blue Crush to a 13-10 victory. Side note; Aggie Dehollander needs to start catching the disc and stop flirting with Riley!
Game 3 - Seagulls VS Grapists
Talk about a shutdown! Only one team turned up for this match and no prizes for guessing which. Seagulls, high on last week's victory over Django Unchained, looked to make it two in a row with a victory over Grapists. With experienced handlers such as Deanna Finn and Robert Dehollander, Grapists would've found it difficult to stop Seagulls working the disc up the field and they did. Seagulls looked dangerous as they swung the disc back and forth among the team and up the field with fluid and precise efficiency.
Not only did the Seagulls bring the heat in offense, they set up an ice wall of a defense. A tight man-marking defensive play saw Seagulls limit Grapists to only two points in the whole match. To be fair to the Grapists, they managed to work the disc up the field a number of times but just couldn't find that last pass. Or they would have the disc and get too hasty and throw it away.
Final score: Seagulls with an overwhelming 13-2 victory over Grapists. It will be exciting to see the Deanna-Rob partnership develop over this season. Grapists definitely have great potential and all they need is a little more practice and patience on the field and I dare say they'll be a force to be reckoned with!
Game 4 - Django Unchained VS Purple Haze
To be honest I wasn't expecting Purple Haze to put up a fight in this one, which was why it surprised me when they went point for point with Django Unchained. Captains Liss "Swan" Bowden and Ryan Miller kept Purple Haze tight and organised and surprised the pundits even more by snatching two quick points at the end of the first half to seal it 7-6.
Now for those of you who aren't aware, James David's black team has always been imposing throughout the seasons. With their inspiring all black kit and formidable field presence, some have compared the All Blacks to James' teams and have said that's how the Kiwis got inspired. Thus when Purple Haze took the lead at half-time, most neutrals were salivating for an upset.
But alas, tonight was not the night Django Unchained would be denied. They came out steamrolling in the second half and scored a couple of quick points right off the bat. Maybe that had a psychological impact on Purple Haze because it appeared as if they switched off for the second half which allowed Django Unchained to completely neutralise the Purple Haze offense and power to a victory.
Final score: In a game that held so much promise for Purple Haze, Django Unchained managed to hold on and emerge as 13-7 victors.
Game 5 - Tie Dynosaurs VS Mitey Discs
A meeting of two friends turned into a battle of two enemies in the Ultimate arena. Long time friends and captains of their respective teams Matthew "Finny" Finn and Matt Hamilton went up against each other in Round 2 of Townsville Ultimate League.
The first half saw an efficient Tie Dynosaur side methodically picking apart a careless Mitey Discs side. Finny used his incredible handling abilities to swing the disc back and forth between his team and this allowed the Dynosaurs to quickly work their way up the field and score some quick points to take the first half 7-3. Mitey Discs were dispirited and thought that the first half was the beginning of the end of their game, and the Dynosaurs thought they had the game in the bag.
How wrong they were! Mitey Discs came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and we soon had a game on our hands. With 10 minutes left on the clock, Mitey Discs managed to tie the game up at 11-11 and two subsequent quickfire points ensured victory for Mitey Discs. What a day it was for the Mitey Discs and what a great victory it was for captain Matt Hamilton to be able to put one over Finny!
Final score: Mitey Disc came back miraculously to beat Tie Dynosaurs 13-11. A high intensity game was played by both teams all the way to the finish and rock solid performances were put in by all the players. In the words of Mattie Hamilton: "The Huddle stank but that's when you know everyone gave it their all!".
It was great to see the spirit everyone brought with them and the heart they put into training and playing. We will be introducing the zone offense and defense next week and it should be interesting to see the teams adapt and adopt the strategies which suit them best. That's all we have for you for this week's games. Check this space for fixtures and pundits' predictions of Round 3 of the Townsville Ultimate League. Until next time, see ya!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Northern Regionals 2013!
The Townsville Villains flew down to Brisbane over the St Patrick's Day weekend for the North Regionals 2013. The Villains team, consisting of Finny, Chris, Jazzy, Ashley, Andy, Kramer, Josh, Bevo, David Dehollander, David Phang, and pickups Tyson, and Mansauce, played and intense, fun, and epic weekend of Ultimate.
Northern Regionals 2013 saw Andy, Kramer, Josh, and Phang take part in their first ever competitive Ultimate tournament and it was exciting to see them learn and improve over the weekend.
It wasn't a bad weekend, considering 1/3 of the team were first timers and half the team have never really played together before. The Townsville gave the state champions and runner-ups a run for their money, and beat the rest of the teams.
Villains men weren't the only one to go to the Northern Regionals. Three of our own Villains chicas were also at the weekend tournament playing with Cherry Bombs, one of the women's teams in Brisbane.
Northern Regionals 2013 saw Andy, Kramer, Josh, and Phang take part in their first ever competitive Ultimate tournament and it was exciting to see them learn and improve over the weekend.
It wasn't a bad weekend, considering 1/3 of the team were first timers and half the team have never really played together before. The Townsville gave the state champions and runner-ups a run for their money, and beat the rest of the teams.
Villains men weren't the only one to go to the Northern Regionals. Three of our own Villains chicas were also at the weekend tournament playing with Cherry Bombs, one of the women's teams in Brisbane.
(Dave Dehollander and Matt Finn talking tactics)
(From left: Josh, Palazzi, Krammer, Dave, Bevo, and Ash)
(Ashley O'Sullivan with the first pull of the tournament)
(Chris Ende tight on the mark)
(Woah how did that get in there!?)
(Spirit of the game, teams huddling after a match ends)
(In case you didn't get enough of Ash's awesome pulls!)
That's all for this weekend's coverage of Townsville Ultimate! Stay tuned next week for round two of Townsville Ultimate League!
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