Of course we know from last year that Tour 3 results don't mean a thing when it comes to Regionals/Nationals so we know we need to work hard in the coming months if we want to succeed when it counts.
Saturday:
Game 1: Win vs Manchester Ultimate (14-13)
Going into this game we knew that our last matchup against this team had ended in a loss. We seemed slightly tentative throughout and Manchester were playing hard. They have put together a good structure and created an identity around some very good players. We were up 13-10 with a couple of chances to win it, and though we let it slip to sudden death our O-Line stepped up and calmly put away the last point to take the win.
Game 2: Win vs Reading Ultimate (15-6)
Ka-Pow! went up early in this game (6-0 I think) before Reading finally got on the board. They were making mistakes all over the field and never really got into this game which I think is a shame as I felt they had more to give. Reading will probably be disappointed with their 17th place finish after their fight to qualify for A-Tour at Tour 2.
Game 3: Win vs LeedsLeedsLeeds (15-5)
With both teams going into this game as a second in a back to back it was going to be a test in the harsh heat. However, whereas Ka-Pow! had put away Reading fairly quickly and had time to rest and mentally prepare, Leeds had to come in off a hard fought and close loss to Manchester (15-13 I think). Unfortunately, they came into the game against us a little deflated and we were able to take full advantage. Leeds like Reading are better than they showed in the game against us.
Three games against some strong regional programmes from across the country and Ka-Pow! came away with three wins, which put us in prime position to put ourselves back into the top 8!
Sunday:
Game 4: Win vs Devon (14-12)
We knew Devon had been playing some of their best ultimate in the last two tournaments, beating Fire 1 to put them in the top 8 at Tour 2 and going 8-3 up against Chevron in their group game at Tour 3, before losing in a nail-biter (14-11). We knew we would have to be at our best and our D-Line were so up to the challenge. After our O-Line had gone 3-0 down to Devon, our D-Line swamped Devon's O-Line to earn multiple breaks whilst the O-Line got their rhythm back. We closed the game out well to take top 8 again!
Game 5: Win vs Fire 0 (15-5)
We had over run in our game against Devon and had to trudge over to the other side of the fields, filling water as we went to start our game which was already 15 or so minutes in against Fire 2 (or Fire 0). Luckily, we came out hard and managed to break them over and again in the first half. Our D-Line were once again dominant. Over this weekend our D-Line were converting probably 95% of the time when they got a block, if not more. This was a weakness of ours last year late in the season, but if we can keep this up it would be fantastic. Fire 2 seemed out of it by the end of it and were making mistakes which are uncharacteristic of what has been a strong team throughout this season. With Fire 1 not managing to win their crossover, Fire 2 finished higher than Fire 1 for the second tour in a row. We went into this game with a record of 0 wins and 3 losses to Fire 2 on the season so, going into Regionals in a couple of weeks, it was really important for us to get this win, especially in such a dominant fashion!
Game 6: Win vs Brighton City (14-12)
Another game for Ka-Pow! against another very talented and well organised regional club to finish the weekend. Our D-Line was once again dominant early and we took an 8-3 lead going into half. Brighton came out firing in the second half, with their D-Line breaking us to bring the score to within 2. Ka-Pow! maintained a lead throughout the entire game, but that half time lead would prove to be really important to Ka-Pow! surviving the late surge from Brighton. We also got our first up-close look at their Mexican-Hexagon offense. It is a really interesting offense and, if past results are anything to go bym has done them well this season. They were buoyed by Dyno returning and once again this year will probably have their strongest team going into Nationals with Roach also playing for them, so this result should give Ka-Pow! confidence, but we should actively look to avoid complacency if we have to face them again.
UKUTour 3 proved to be the confidence rebuilding tournament we were hoping for! Spirits were high, our systems were working and everyone played well which would have been fantastic being taken by itself, but coming off a disappointing Tour 2 is even more exciting.
Some more interesting stories from around Tour 3:
- Clapham were able to edge out Chevvy in the closest Tour final yet! With both teams missing their GB Under 23 players for all three tours, but Clapham missing their World Games players for Tour 3 and still winning, they should be feeling confident of taking their 13th National Championship in a row (unlucky for some...).
- Though the GB Under 23 open team weren't able to break into the medal positions, they should still be feeling really good going into the World U23 championships in Toronto. They have pushed the top teams all season long, and have learned the kind of team cohesion that will stand them in good stead against the best in the world (plus no Dylan Freechild or Simon Montague to team USA anymore). It is a highly talented, intelligent and athletic squad being sent with strong leadership and coaching and I'm sure I'm not the only one expecting great things for them.
- EMO close out their incredible Tour season by securing the 3rd bid to Worlds (assuming they don't win Nationals or place highest at Euros). This is a fantastic achievement off the back of their first (?) European qualification last season.
- Iceni were finally bested this season, not once but twice at Tour 3, with both losses coming to Bristol who took the Tour champions apart 12-6 in the final! Iceni have plenty of time to regroup before attempting to retain their National and European Championships, but the Women's tour appears to be more wide open this year than I can ever remember seeing it.
- Mixed: Let the rumours and speculation surrounding UKU Mixed Nationals 2013 begin! We know Bear Cavalry will be looking to defend their national championship on the road to Europeans and Worlds, but if their's one thing I heard quite a lot of this weekend it was rumours about which teams would be putting their efforts into Mixed this year, foregoing Open/Womens.
- Thundering Herd: They will be taking a few players from Fire 2, as well as from Burro and Tooting Tigers who found themselves falling to B-Tour for most of this year in a down year.
- DED: After taking a step back from their fantastic inaugural season last year, the rumours at Tour 3 was that DED would be focussing on Mixed after a fairly successful Mixed season.
- Brighton: Mixed reports on this. I know a lot of the girls were leaning towards mixed, though the boys may more be leaning towards Open after a good showing at Nationals and Euros last year and Tour this year.
- Cambridge: With their Open squad having a down year, the guys may be leaning towards mixed after their 2nd place Tour finish, but will Punt, fresh off their first medal finish at Tour 3 (3rd place) and big wins over Leeds and SYC, be setting their sights on Womens?
- Black Eagles: With it looking likely that a Scottish team will only sneak into a top 16 tour placing (Glasgow) and another successful mixed season under Black Eagles' belts, will the Scots put it all on Mixed this year. It would seem very likely when we consider that Swift didn't even enter Tour 3.
This is probably what UKU were aiming for last year, but with nothing on the line in the Mixed division last year save the National title, most players still chose to play Open/Womens. Whilst it could be seen in the short term as diluting the Open/Womens divisions, the end result will most likely be a positive one for UK Ultimate. Will more dedicated mixed clubs spring up? That's something that could happen and would appear to make sense. It may allow for more restrictions on team counts at Open/Womens tournaments which appear to be growing unmanageably large. However, the unknown here is will players go back to their Open/Women's clubs in future years when there is nothing on the line again in the Mixed division? With the current yearly European Championships not having a Mixed division it would appear likely, but who's to say that won't change in the future as well.
FYI EMO have not qualified for World YET. This is done through 1) winner of Nationals 2) highest place European team (that didn't win Nationals) 3) THEN Tour rankings; in that order. If a team from 4th or below does one of 1) or 2) then 3) see EMO not at worlds unless the UK gets another slot.
ReplyDeleteGood point, they've certainly helped their chances though.
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