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The following is an on and off the field report of the 13-14th March weekend at Newcastle, where UTS Mens 1st and 2nd grade teams took on Newcastle uni's top teams - written from the perspective of Newcastle Uni (aka the Seapigs)!
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The first trial game for Newcastle University saw them taking on Sydney’s 3rd ranked team in the 2003 Premier A division at Newcastle Hockey Centre.
Playing in a game format of 20 minute thirds, the games stepped into first gear at 1pm and attracted a willing crowd of support (even though at times it wasn’t too supportive).
UTS 2nd Grade Vs Newcastle Uni 2nd Grade
Result: UTS 3 – SeaPigs 1
UTS started off in the absence of a goal keeper which was put aside as an issue with strong defence and an ability to hold possession of the ball.
6 Minutes into the game Carl "Tooney" Strautins from UTS put the first points for the game on the board and was subsequently removed from the field without any hesitation.
The game flowed with UTS holding most possession and putting a number of scoring opportunities into play.
SeaPigs played mainly defensively, however on a break against the run of play, they managed to slot one past UTS’ keeper to put a point on the board.
The remainder of the game was played in the SeaPigs defensive half and finished up with a convincing win to UTS.
UTS 1st Grade Vs Newcastle Uni Premier Division
Result: UTS 6 – SeaPigs 1
The Newcastle Premier Division line-up saw the return of Mark “Playskool” Johnson to the club after a quick change out of the UTS kit.
Knowing that the team was up against a force that was somewhat more experienced, the SeaPigs main aim was to achieve a level of complacency against UTS and be able to move the ball around the field while in possession.
UTS’s line-up although not containing some of it’s top guns on the field was evidently much stronger and this was shown in the first third with UTS well in control of the game and a number of goals scored.
The second third saw the SeaPigs more structured and in control of the ball while in possession, however strong pressing around the ball saw UTS cover off most opportunities and hold a greater proportion of control for this portion.
The SeaPigs moved players around and in turn got the ball moving much more smoothly throughout the field creating many opportunities, but lacking the ‘finishing’ ability that UTS displayed such strength in.
This third also saw UTS’s striker Jezz drag-flicking well and converting two penalty corners, then putting one through the chinks in Flapper’s armour to leave a branding.
The final third of the game saw the SeaPigs pick up yet again and find structure to control possession and move the ball through the field. Also building in defence and taking time to put in some good tackling and channelling saw some good turnovers out of the SeaPigs defensive quarter. The final of which saw a scoring opportunity for UTS’ Oliver “Ollie” Bongardt abducted and abused by Playskool just outside the circle and moved quickly up the field through Nick “Cartman” Gallagher” to find Joel “Velcro” Curran near the goal to put it away on the final whistle for Newcastle.
With this goal displaying such an awesome display of team work and skill, it counted for 6 and left the game a draw at full time. (editor's note: hmmm, you can think that if it makes you feel better about losing hehe!)
Welcoming BBQ
With the games over, all that was left to do was get to the SeaPigs sponsor, the Crown and Anchor for the Newcastle University Hockey Club Welcoming BBQ and a steady night of consummation (I mean consuming drinks...).
It didn’t take long for the usual drinking rules to come out, nor did it take much longer for the UTS boys to get accustomed to them and learn that shouting a round of drinks for your mates isn’t a healthy exercise.
Bruiser being one of the first to fall victim. Then Gilby having a coin in his glass after a bit too much curiosity on what it’s point was and having to fish back out by means of consumption (not consummation) and from there it was on for young and old. Gus “Spanish Fly” Masana even stopped the chatter for a minute to finish his drink.
The boat race saw UTS rig the team in usual style with some German imports, and not an ocker in sight.
Sea Pigs had a new and young team with two unseasoned piglets going as first and second runner. Despite the youth, unlike the German boys, the Sea Pigs didn’t wear their beer. But UTS came through in the end.
Flapper decided that it was all too much and was in bed by 8.30pm. Must’ve been that bite on the leg he got from Jezz. But aside from that there weren’t too many sober people within an hour of that time.
Screech had a great time in getting smashed off his nut and bounding around the joint like... well like a drunken Sea Pig. Only to be joined by Tooney who encouraged the boy in form that only Tooney can achieve, but needless to say that Tooney could still raise the bar on sheer experience.
Some UTS boys led by the ‘quiet boy’ of UTS, Gilby, managed to find their way back into the nite club through the side entrance despite being kicked out and not let back in by the bouncers.
Bouncers seemed to be a source of entertainment for the night with Paul Jowett being asked to move on from a random place on the street and retorting with “What for you fat bastard, go and eat some cheeseburgers or something”, then deciding that since the bouncer was slightly larger that he’d move on before he got hungry again.
Another UTS representative took a different approach and had the entire nite club, downstairs pub, street and approaching police admire the ‘full-moon’ on display.
It was mentioned that room 14 was getting a bit of a work out on one or two occasions with some people keeping up inter-club relations and some others poking their heads in to make sure that everything was alright.
Funnily enough the person who eventually slept in the bed wasn’t actually involved in any of it, and received a bit of his own medicine back from the New Zealand Uni-games tour.
It all quietened down later with people passing out in corners and retiring for the night, that was until the ‘quiet boy’ thought it’d be hilarious to dump a bucket of water from the upstairs accommodation all over the nite club patrons on the north balcony.
This quickly brought two bouncers up that had watched way too much Blue Heelers and thought that using the word ‘affirmative’ in no way made them sound like the absolute wankers that they were. The result was that those in the room were kicked out onto the pavement for bad behaviour.
The things we do on tour...
All in all it was a heap of fun and there was plenty that went on, but as the saying goes:
What happens on tour... stays on tour!
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