From britdisc-owner@csv.warwick.ac.uk Wed Apr 1 09:54:10 1998 Received: (from daemon@localhost) by pansy.csv.warwick.ac.uk (8.8.7/8.8.8) id JAA16876 for britdisc-outgoing; Wed, 1 Apr 1998 09:51:09 +0100 (BST) Received: from amsta.leeds.ac.uk (amsta.leeds.ac.uk [129.11.36.1]) by pansy.csv.warwick.ac.uk (8.8.7/8.8.8) with ESMTP id JAA16848 for <britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk>; Wed, 1 Apr 1998 09:51:03 +0100 (BST) Received: from newton.leeds.amsta (newton.leeds.ac.uk [129.11.36.64]) by amsta.leeds.ac.uk (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id JAA16032 for <britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk>; Wed, 1 Apr 1998 09:51:53 +0100 (BST) Received: by newton.leeds.amsta (SMI-8.6/SMI-SVR4) id JAA03633; Wed, 1 Apr 1998 09:53:31 +0100 Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 09:53:31 +0100 From: amtsjh@amsta.leeds.ac.uk (S J Hill) Message-Id: <199804010853.JAA03633@newton.leeds.amsta> To: britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk Subject: Leicester Report X-Sun-Charset: US-ASCII Sender: owner-britdisc@warwick.ac.uk Precedence: bulk The BUF Tour: Leicester Outdoors -------------------------------- The first Ultim-8 Tour Event of 1998 was held at Victoria Park, Leicester on the 28/29 March. UTI beat Shotgun in a thrilling final, with SOTG going to Phat'Eds (Sheffield Uni), and the plate being won by Jedi (Leeds Uni). This year the tournament hosted 32 teams, competing initially in 8 pools of 4, with the winner of each pool progressing to the quarter-finals. There were 12 pitches (mostly of a good standard, although it is difficult to find many venues with 10+ perfect, flat pitches), and the whole thing was run smoothly by Scott, Ben and Red Ultimate Club. With the first round of the Tour being run on an open format many of the opening pool games were rather one-sided affairs. Nonetheless there were some great moments, and also some suprises. GB Juniors and Superfly both found their way into the top 16, with Headrush and Red Shift beating Red and First Touch respectively to make the quarter finals. Matt Lowe of Charnwood Sunz said "I think my moment of the tournament had to be when our team first scored. After losing our first game 13 - 0 we were feeling down, then the rain came down and all just before we had to play Catch 22. Though when Iain (a.k.a Big Hands) scored our first point we all leapt onto him, a huge pile-up in the mud, the Catch players saw this as a good moment to join in." The top 3 teams were expected to cruise through their quarter-finals, and this they did. UTI were in efficient mood: despatching Violently Happy 15-0. One VH player said it was "the first time in 15 years" he had been in a game and failed to score! The long anticipated Druids-Chevron match-up came and went all too quickly for Chevron who found themselves 6-0 down before they could get going. Elsewhere in the tournament Sharks and Strange Blue found themselves in unfamiliar territory, and Village People were karate-chopped out of the top 12 by new Leeds team Mild Mannered Janitors. The two women's teams Bliss and Twin Peaks were also looking good, firmly in the 17-24 section of the competition after pool wins over Jedi and Skunks respectively. On Sunday the competition to remain in the top 8 hotted up: Chevron, Headrush and VH all held onto their positions, but Red Shift lost an early lead against Red who finally won in a tense ending. First Touch took their revenge for Saturday-defeat against the Southampton team, and GB Juniors came in an impressive 11th. VH maintained their grip over Red, and Chevron recovered from a poor start against this season's revitalised Headrush to finish 5th. The two semis on adjacent pitches left the spectators spoilt for choice! Damo writes: "Shotgun v Druids: both teams started well and traded for almost the entirety of the first half. The new look Druids were capitalising on their improved style of play (which one spectator referred to as Slim-boy-Ultimate) and never looked like letting Shotgun run away with the game. Or did I speak to soon? The game is tied at 10-10 and Shotgun have turned over. The Druids then play some patient and steady offence against Shotgun's own style of zone, but make an unfortunate, unforced error near Shotgun's end-zone line. Ten seconds later, Shotgun have scored and taken the first half, 11-10. This may well have been the moment that turned the game because straight after half time Druids continue to make errors on offence and ten minutes later Shotgun have what seems to be an unassailable lead. Final score 21-14. Meanwhile, on the next pitch, UTI and Catch were playing the other semi. Again, the teams started off pretty evenly but UTI then capitalised on a few errors to take a 9-6 lead. Back come Catch and UTI look stunned as Catch win the half 11-9, scoring 5 unanswered points; the highlight of which was a "hammer-fest point". Rafi throws a curving hammer half the length of the pitch which looks certain to be D. An amazing layout grab by Paolo rescues the throw, a quick swing to Kiwi Gazza is swiftly followed by a cross-field hammer which eats up the remaining half of the pitch, landing in the hands of an un-marked Catch player in the corner of the zone." In the cap UTI held off a final Catch comeback to win 20-18. The final itself was slightly marred by a change of weather. But most people didn't notice the rain as they enjoyed an enthralling game. At times it looked as though Gun would grasp the initiative, but UTI refused to give in. "Ploughman" Ian and Guy Bowles led the charge of spectacular dives on both O and D. "Light'ning" Pete Harvey took an incredible layout grab in front of Lee, but it cost the Gunners dear as he was left injured. Alex Bowers was a constant thorn in Aram's side and as the end approached UTI started to take control. The National Indoor Champs pulled out all the stops to score the last 8 points whilst Shotgun (for the first time ever?) looked a little short of answers. The last word goes to Roger: "Looks like we're all going to have a competitive and fun season". Results were sent yesterday. Thanks for contibutions/information from Colin Eagles, Dora Kemp, Matt Lowe, Damo Mudge, Wayne Retter, Neil Travers and Colin Wagstaff. Damo will take over the collation/editing job to provide a BD-report and NEWSLETTER report of Tour II - and he will mention this again nearer the time. Thanks Damo! Si (22)