UKU Nationals 2013 Preview - Womens'

The Women’s division looks pretty cut and dry to me in terms of the 4 European Qualification spots going to only 6 teams entered. The mixed division has, this year even more than last year, disrupted the Women’s division. With the first round being all 6 teams in a round robin, Curve (did not enter Women’s tour) and Dragon Knights (Tour finish of 15^th out of 21) will be tough pressed to snatch any wins against the other four teams who will befirm favourites to take the 4 euro spots and who will be aiming to make the final. After the round robin there is a Final between the two teams who finished 1^st and 2^nd and no game to go to Euros with the top 4 qualifying automatically. This means that games between the top 4 should be tough fought throughout, but the end of the weekend may prove to be an anti-climax, which is disappointing since, in my experience, Women’s finals are more exciting to watch that Open finals.

Games to watch in pool play:

The best games in each round should be:

Round 1: Iceni vs LeedsLeedsLeeds. Whilst Iceni should feel confident in their abilities to beat Leeds, this should be the most competitive game of the round

Round 2: Iceni vs Bristol: The rematch of the Tour 3 final and what should be the tip for the Nationals final should be electric, but subdued as neither team will want to lose and make their job of getting to the final slightly harder, but will know they have 3 more games after this one to get themselves there.

Round 3: SYC’s first “game” of the tournament. When SYC are fired up they can take on last years champions so they will have used their first two games to tighten up their systems and loosen up their bodies and nerves. (Nice Bristols vs Leeds should also be a good battle).

Round 4: Assuming Leeds don’t beat Iceni or Bristol in Rounds 1 and 3, they could be out of running for the final unless they beat SYC and hope for a three way tie. SYC face Bristol in Round 5, which could be the game to go to the final if they beat Leeds in this round.

Round 5: Making assumptions that by this point Iceni have made the final and Leeds can do nothing more than beat down Curve SYC vs Bristol could be an even better game than the final as both teams fight to make the final.

The top 4/bottom 2 split seems obvious to predict, but the finishing positions aren’t, so here’s my attempt:

1.       Iceni (Euro Q1)

2.       Bristol (Euro Q2)

3.       SYC (Euro Q3)

4.       LeedsLeedsLeeds

5.       Curve

6.       Dragon Knights