BUSA Southerns - UEA
After a mammoth journey across the width of the country to make it to Norwich, the first team got in a quick pint before getting some kip for the big day ahead of them.
First game was against a spirited Birmingham University side. Despite a thorough warm up and positive mind set Cardiff started the slower of the two sides, and saw a lot of opportunities missed in a hit and miss performance, which saw some good pressure from Brum cause a number of unforced errors amidst our ranks. Cardiff held on however and finished eventual 3-2 winners.
Next up was a game against reigning BUSA champions and hosts UEA, boasting a new look side including BSKS star Tom Ellis. Despite some nice link up play, a lack of movement, and a failure to make the shots count enabled UEA to take hold of the match. Eventually their pace and clinical long shooting enabled them to run out 3-1 winners.
The last pool game was against the University of Kent, who had their eyes set on causing an upset. With one win and one loss, it was important that Cardiff claim a victory to ensure themselves of a top two finish, hence a seeding for the nationals in March. The match started disastrously for us with Kent taking a 1-0 lead from a free pass. Over 10 minutes passed before we equalised, but with less than 5 minutes left we took a 2-1 lead, which is how it finished. Not pretty, but we got the job done.
So into the semi finals Cardiff progressed to come up against the winners of pool A, Oxford Uni. With a near full strength side and lots of experience playing together, this well drilled team provided the toughest opposition we'd faced yet. However some superb play, especially in defence, meant that we stayed it in right up until the final moments, when Oxford sank another long shot to leave the game 4-2 in their favour. On another day a huge number of very close long shots may well have gone in, and the score line could have been in Cardiff's favour. It was obviously not meant to be however, and a spirited Oxford side went on to face UEA in the final.
The third place playoff saw Cardiff pitted against league rivals Bristol, in a game played more for pride than anything else, with both teams assured of seedings for the main BUSA event in March already. The game got underway with Bristol displaying a differing and more cohesive line up than the one that lost in the equivocal fixture of the Cardiff tournament. Some authoritative, and possibly at times questionable reffing controlled the way in which the game was played, and once Cardiff heads went down after a dubious penalty decision against Rich, Bristol deservedly went on to earn a 5-3 victory.
So 4th place overall, and glimpses of some very good korfball from a team still in the early stages of development. For those of you interested, this means we're seeded 7th for the nationals, and look pretty certain to be placed in a pool with the winners of the BUSA Northerns - Nottingham Uni.
We got fish and chips in whilst watching “Chico time”, read the world's most interesting cocktail menu, then got dressed as pirates for the social. We proceeded to get drunk (fancy that), beat the record for people in a phone box (now stands at 9), and play numerous drinking games.
Good times.
Captain J
