Brief summary by Terry Matthews

City Travelled to Bristol at the weekend for what was billed as a 2nd team tournament, but City only really fielded one player in this category, the ever willing Gwenno. As it happened, the other teams would not be so much different!

Given that coach Terry was hung over like a dog and left to stalk the sidelines, the team was to be left with just 6 players, which meant borrowing one of each for each game.

Hence, for our first game against Bristol Horfield, we got Sarah, and the energetic Kevin to fit into some experimental divisions.

The game got off to a great start, with Elaine dropping in off a nice side feed from Captain Josh. However, Despite heavy pressure (every player hit the rim), City could not double the lead. This gave Horfield the opportunity to equalise, and run in another 4 goals! Typical. Still, not to be deterred, City managed a late response, with Dave netting off a lovely diagonal ball from Sian, then Rob netting from somewhere near half way. The possibility of a tense last 5 was blown when Horfield were awarded a penatly, which Ian put away with his usual clinicallity.

The 3-6 scoreline was not really a fair reflection of the game, with City defending well, and playing some very nice Korfball in attack.

After another rejig of divisions, and swapping Kevin for the equally bouncy Bryan, we set about our next game againt Exeter.

As before, City took the lead, Rob again from out in the deep, yet this time, we were able to double, with Sian netting a very well taken running in from the increasingly influencial Rob. Exeter did reply, but City stretched the lead with a very smart lay-up from Taff after a clever inside ball from Josh. After swapping, Sian got back in the action with a long effort and Rob claimed his usual third of the event off Gwenno, who was getting more and more into the action and looking better each attack.

It should have been more, but that inability to score penatlies arose yet again, and twice in very quick succesion Josh and Elaine were guilty of being asleep at free passes with the defence all at sea.

Some slack and complacent defending (which would ultimatly cost us the tournament on goal difference), gave Exeter 4 goals, before we decided to get back into the game.

With Cardiff actually putting some training moves into practice, the attacks were causing trouble with the long diagonal pass, which finally rewarded Elaine off the back. We then gave a guest a goal, with Brian netting from Long.

Despite City attacking with some system for a change, Taff was not to be outdone, and left the best to last, with a wonderfully taken individual piece of skill. Collecting and shooting over his head all in one movement, Taff finally scored in a game with a shot that rarely goes in even in training. Show off!

City won the last game 8-5, and with Exeter winning the last Vs Bristol, the hosts won on goal difference. That will teach us to stop concentrating in defence.

However, City did play with a lot more structure and effort than in previous games, and it showed, with some individual and team improvements. The practice at 3-1 was finally paying off, with City using the pitch far better than any of the other teams. With better concentration in defence, and some more clinical finishing, City might yet still challenge for the title.

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