Write-up By Taff

So the match we've all been waiting for arrived with both the Dragons and City looking to improve on lacklustre performances last time out, and both sides duly served up a 26 goal thriller, with plenty of fine play and more passion and commitment than we've seen all year.

From the outset City seemed determined to fight fire with fire, putting Ceri on Remco to nullify his height advantage and leaving Ramzi and Chris to chase each other round the court. Zoe took on Sian, while Rachel was matched against Donna. Kat was given the tough task of marking Susan while the Dragons were clearly hoping Pam would be able to use her heigh advantage over Midge. The last two match-up saw Lee pitted against Josh and Terry taking on Rob.

The blue half of Cardiff started more confidently, with Lee and Susan putting up some good early shots and Midge giving Pam the runaround, but in a defence dominated opening, Sian was the first to find her range with a long shot, and it was a few more minutes before Rob burst through only to be fouled as he went for his shot. Remco slotted the penalty and it was 2-0 Dragons.

If anyone had thought that City were weakened by the loss of two top-scoring boys from last season's line-up they would think again as Terry netted a runner off Zoe's pass straight from the changeover. Chris hit back for the Dragons with his first shot moments later, 3-1 Dragons. Susan's end continued to press in attack, but with Kat putting in a storming effort, chances for last season's player of the year were few and far between. At the other end the Dragons were using Remco's long shooting as a main focus of attack, but with Zoe rebounding everything in sight, attacking rebounds were drying up for both sides.

It was finally down to Lee to break the deadlock with 2 carbon copy mid-range shots, both after Susan had found him in space. The 3-all draw was shortlived as Chris chased down his own rebound and fired in another. A period of Dragons dominance followed, the reds piling plenty of pressure on, and eventually a defensive mix-up allowed Chris to pick up the loose ball under the post and claim his hat-trick.

As the half wound down Ramzi was next on the scoresheet with a trademark long shot, swiftly followed by Lee missing an absolute sitter on the turn. Two excellent duels developed with both City boys running their defenders ragged, but neither were able to break through and half time came at 5-4 to the Dragons.

It would seem City got the better half time talk, Lee landing a great longshot in the opening ten seconds of the second half to tie the score again, but after a period of recovery the Dragons boys answered once more, dead-eye Chris from deep and Josh from even further out extending the lead to 5-7.

Not to be outdone Lee sprinted past Josh again and sunk his fourth from Midge's feed. With the scoring so far dominated by the boys, it was then the turn of the girls to spark some action. Sian and Zoe traded penalties which were gratefully dispatched by Remco and Ceri respectively, and then, with the score at 7-8 came the most spectacular sequence of play seen in Wales for a long time. It all began with an excellent rebound goal from Pam, and in the next 30 seconds, four players landed consecutive halfway line shots; first Ramzi, then Remco, then Josh after an interception and finally Zoe, getting the loudest cheer of all!

5-4 had become 11-9 in the space of ten minutes and timeout was called to give everyone chance to catch their breath.

In the lull that inevitably followed both teams took time to adjust to the new tactics imposed at the timeout, and it was several minutes before an unfortunate collision saw Josh on the floor with a bashed nose. Sportingly, Lee who was through at the time chose not to shoot, but turn and make sure his stricken friend was ok. It made no difference anyway, as Lee romped through moments later to cut the lead to one. That minute epitomised all that was good about the game; fiercely competitive, yet never losing sight of the fact that we are one club in all but name - and we've all got to come back and train together next week!

Donna was next onto the scoresheet to great celebrations, Rob found her in space and she made no mistake with just about the only shot Rachel let her have al game. At 10-12 with time beginning to run down City were stuck with players at the wrong end of the court; the better defensive unit on attacking duty and the starting attack defending for all they were worth. Never one to leave the scorer untroubled for long, Chris stormed in for his 5th of the game, a delightful one handed runner, to leave City in dire straits at 13-10 down and only a few minutes to go

The Dragons thought they had perhaps finally taken a 4 goal cushion as Chris had the ball in the korf again a short time later, but Ramzi got the defended shot decision and within a minute the tide had turned again as Zoe won another penalty. Ceri showed nerves of steel to roll it in and finally Susan's end could go back on the attack.

Ian came on for Josh and a couple of minutes later Joey checked in for Rob as Josh looked to add some speed to the Dragons' ranks. With around 3 minutes to go Susan took a rather speculative mid-range shot which, after clattering the front rim bounced up and in. This game was going down to the wire. From the next attack Susan was again given the tiniest amount of space by Kat and to the astonishment of all repeated the trick to tie the game at 13-13.

The last 45 seconds came and went with plenty of players putting their hands up for sealing a heroic win, Ceri and Chris went agonisingly close, but the game ended at 13-13, and a decent reflection of a match no one deserved to lose. City will feel they got out of jail and both sides may rue the space they afforded the long shooters during a second-half shoot out as exciting as any korfball seen so far this season in the EKL.

Finally, thanks to Jack who gave a nerveless performance in the middle, and well and truly earnt as many pints as his match fee could afford!

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