| City State Intentions at OKA tour I |
| Cardiff City Squad |
| Rachel Knight, Tel Boy Matthews, Elaine Hutchings, Jack McNamara, Ian O'Sullivan, Kay Lewis, Susan Belfourd, Ceri Jones, Sian Hunt, Holly Sisley, James Frost, Ed Regan, Gwen Jones, Rob Davies |
Despite setting off at the recommended time of 7.30 am, our car was still late, as we had forgotten to add 20 minutes to the time to compensate for Rachel's determined driving style!
Hence, we missed the first few minutes of our opening game against Horfield, where we were already 4-0 up due to Ceri (2) Rob and Sian being part of the wide awake club and running past their sleepy markers. Ceri soon secured his hat-trick and Siany made her brace before Susan opened her account and Kay netted to close the victory against our local league rivals.
Next up were Bristol City, who were soon on the wrong end of the City's finishing, as Jack sandwiched two big long shots either side of a Terry runner. Gwen got into the action early too, netting from short range. Bristol's City side were to prove sterner opposition than Horfield, and some good defense was needed to keep them down to 3. The game was killed late on, when a charging Ian burnt his marker, drew the switch, and perfectly offloaded to a grateful Terry who completed the move from the drop off.
Given the whole squad was here, a determined Susan re-arranged the squad into firsts and seconds in order to challenge everyone. It was a tactic that would not back-fire as both teams continued to play well.
Our first game against alien opposition would come against Didcot, a well organised side from the OKA league. Whilst they were no push over, City's finishing would be too hot. Susan sunk an early runner, before dropping a great pass over the top for Terry to net on the turn. Elaine soon got into the act before Susan and Ceri scored off each other in a partnership that would perform well all day.
Next up was a tough game against the hosts, Oxford City. James dropped his usual big bomb, before Ms Belfourd finished the game off with a run and short effort. The game was a pretty tactical effort, and although obviously weaker this time around, Oxford will still challenge for the tour crown. Having said that, City were in good form and deserved the victory which put them through to the semis.
The Cardiff squads run of victories would come to a end after that, with the seconds going down in quick succession.
First were a pretty strong Exeter line up, which won 3-1 with close to their league line up, which should give the seconds a great deal of heart and a good indication of how good they are.
Secondly, where a cruising Abingdon team who were just too good. Credit to the seconds defense for keeping the score down to three, but the attack just lacked the cleverness needed to break down an outfit like this.
The firsts last group game would come against a silky looking Woking side who had notched up a few healthy wins along the way. Woking started with the ball and soon scored twice, and that's how it would stay for some time. With City's on form weapons all down stuck in defence, and ex Cardiff Uni star Clive Minshull getting his arms to just about everything passed near him at the other end, it would end up being a stale mate. Captain Rachel did well to keep a series of set moves out, as Woking displayed the kind of solid structured attacking City need to learn to play at this level. They added a late third to claim the group and give City some food for thought.
Cardiff 2 were soon back into the winning grove as they scored an impressive win against Didcot who had asked one or two questions of the firsts earlier. Terry had his shooting boots on, and netted from the half way line then mid court to open up the lead. Didcot fought back, but a defensive wall only conceded one, as seconds captain Ian finally got the goal his play deserved to claim the win.
Next up was a semi against Abingdon and a stale defensive battle made worse by some dubious refereeing. Both teams were being cancelled out by the other and nothing was going to give. A comedy momment was supplied by the ref, who called Terry and Tony over and warned them for bellying each other! A Susan penalty and a reply would lead a penalty shoot out for the final place. Terry scored, and everyone else missed to allow Abingdon through. While City can be disapointed by not making a final they probably deserved to be in, they can take heart from another good performance against a team who perform well in a more established league than ours.
Determined to make up, City claimed 3rd place in a goal fest against Exeter. Mixing the girls up took Susan away from Ceri, though both refound their touch and claimed 3's. Ceri twice from the spot (to banish his demons from before), and with aplomb from range, and Susan enjoying the space afforded her by her marker to claim 2 runners from the feed and one from a slicing long diagonal into her run from Terry. Elaine added another late on, to cap anopther solid day's play.
Giving another perfomance above their station, City's 2nds gave Oxford a decent game despite losing, James giving his ministry of funny running in shots an airing, before Rachel shook off the shackles from the first team marking to claim her basket. Ed also got his basket, claiming a runner his energy certinaly deserved. We didn't get a penalty in order to get Holly on the sheets, but her contribution was typical of the sterling performance from the only second team there agianst some very decent oppostion.
Cardiff 1 - 3rd of 9
Cardiff 2 - 6th of 9
A very satisfactoy result then, with Susan in simply sparkling form and hence being impossible to subdue. Her effect is rubbing off on Ceri who also showed he'll be an extremely potent addition to the ranks. James and Rachel continued to look good at this level while Sian and Elaine remain an well oiled partnership who were barely scored against all day. Ed was a livewire all day, unlucky to only to get one, as was Rob who was outstanding in defence. Individually, City continue to get stronger and stronger, but the lesson from this event is that to move up a grade, some tactical nous has to be developed in order play a more structured game.
The seconds however, continue to impress. Gwen, Holly and Kay all looking comfortable around the post and in the assist, if not quite potent enough yet with the basket open. Ian is showing some great pace, and Jack is fast becoming the new James, with a booming long shot. The club can only get stronger and stronger as players at this stage continue to dedicate to events in this mould. Good stuff.
| Scorers | |
| Susan | 10 |
| Ceri | 7 |
| Terry | 5 |
| Sian | 3 |
| Jack | 2 |
| James | 2 |
| Elaine | 2 |
| Ed | 1 |
| Ian | 1 |
| Rob | 1 |
| Gwen | 1 |
| Kay | 1 |
| Holly | 0 |
Piccies
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The Party
The BBQ was a short and sweet affair, with everyone rushing Terry after he had spent a while gossipping (networking darlings) with Clive and Gav. After wandering past some strange man on the internet, we found ourselves in a quite bizarre B&B. Fridges with no beer, doors that didn't shut, or that you couldn't sit on, and flooding sinks were all soon discovered. Still, off the the pub then.
Here the boys had a lesson in gambling from Jack, who wasted his youth on "fruit machines and throwing bricks at the police". When the girls had arrived and Siany necked a double vodka in ultra quick time, we were off the the next pub, worryingly called Old Tom.
Don't know what happened here as I was networking again with Holly and some friends.
Off then to the late night bar complete with cheesy music, a DJ whose best boast was he used to be on Red Dragon and a weird race track style dance floor. Holly and Jack both had a crack at the evenings Dance award, but were never going to beat Siany and Ian, who pulled off the flying scene from and officer and gentleman almost perfectly.
Then back into the cold were Elaine was so desperate to find food, that she was harassing the locals and stealing chips. Back via the burger van, and to the "party in 4".
Next followed about an hour of depraved "I have never", in which we found out that all the girls have purchased porn and most would be tempted by lesbianism. But who admited to running down the street naked, who admitted to a threesome (mff), who admited to sex with two different men in one day, who admitted to being blinded by cum, who admitted using food and who admited sleeping with a goldfish? Best not to ask.
The morning after the night before was met with a very odd breakfast, with not enough cutlery, milk and no coffee or tea. The food fared not much better, with the bacon being somewhat subject, Jack refusing a egg cos "I don't like the way it's looking at me". He also described a small lump of fried roadkill/gristle/toenail as "Miscellaneous". This culminated in a well deserved deserved email of from Rachel telling them that they were shite!
So, into Oxford, and to a Café, where the drinks were lovely and City spent 90 minutes reading papers and being ultra-cultural. Hilarity was found as Terry found a picture of a tortoise.
After a bout shopping for the girls and a quick pint for the boys, we were on the road and in search of Sunday grub. We found it in a place called the Snooty Fox on the A420. Superb does not do it justice. Holly ordered and got a whole shoulder of lamb, and the only thing left at the end was plates almost licked clean. Then the boys pigged out on pudding too. Definately a recipiant of the Cardiff City seal of approval. Excellent.
All in all, a fab weekend, and big nods to Rachel for her organisational prowess, Susan for her coaching, Ian for his leadership in the seconds, and Jack for his top quality quotes.
Again in a fortnight then??
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© 2003 Cardiff City Korfball Club. All Rights Reserved.