From britdisc-owner@csv.warwick.ac.uk  Wed Aug 26 14:08:49 1998
Received: (from daemon@localhost)
	by pansy.csv.warwick.ac.uk (8.8.7/8.8.8) id NAA24078
	for britdisc-outgoing; Wed, 26 Aug 1998 13:50:01 +0100 (BST)
Received: from exchpk02.chelt.ac.uk (exchpk02.chelt.ac.uk [194.66.194.6])
	by pansy.csv.warwick.ac.uk (8.8.7/8.8.8) with ESMTP id NAA24068
	for <britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk>; Wed, 26 Aug 1998 13:50:00 +0100 (BST)
Message-Id: <199808261250.NAA24068@pansy.csv.warwick.ac.uk>
Received: by exchpk02.chelt.ac.uk with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9)
	id <RLJTV6VG>; Wed, 26 Aug 1998 13:50:04 +0100
From: "HUGHES, Chris" <CHughes@chelt.ac.uk>
To: "'Britdisc'" <britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk>
Subject: Hitchin Handicapping
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 13:48:13 +0100
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9)
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="iso-8859-1"
Sender: owner-britdisc@warwick.ac.uk
Precedence: bulk

A number of people have already mailed about the tournament, which I believe
that most people enjoyed (apart from the weather gods getting angry at us on
Sunday afternoon).

The tournament started at a pleasant hour on Saturday, with the winds
blowing as usual at Hitchin, but certainly not unplayable. The chosen
handicapping system was by use of the weaker team getting a headstart based
on the difference between the handicap values of the two teams. Right from
the very start it became apparent that the two teams to beat were going to
be the top seeds, of Goldfish (a Druids / UTI / ex-Red Shift combo) -
handicap 0; and Mohawks Legends - Handicap +1. Red also appeared a threat
once they mustered a full team.

As the tournament progressed, it did appear that teams were going to have to
fight for the win, although Goldfish beat the Mohawks 12 - 10, they promptly
lost to Mud Culture 11 - 13, as Mud took great advantage of their 8 point
headstart. This coming from a team that had been beaten by Hurricane 9 - 7,
who made good use of their 3 point advantage. Whilst most teams were
battling and having close games - rarely was a game won by more than 3 or 4
points, it soon became apparent that I had been unreasonably harsh on
Fingers 6 who started suffering badly.

As the weather improved for Saturday evening, and the drinking began (or in
some cases continued) Goldfish, Red, and Mohawks all jockeyed for the top
two positions, having lost only one game each, to progress to the final, but
a lot was yet to happen. Why? Red and Mohawks had to play each other, and
Goldfish had to face Hurricane; a local school team which was playing well,
and winning, and would go into the game starting at 11 - 0 up, and first to
13. Hurricane started well, having picked-up Dr Ross, and Cliff (from
Lurkers), they gained possession with their backs to the wind and punted.
Goldfish weren't concerned - Lee was down there, marking a four-foot high,
eight and half stone, school kid - we were more worried he would land on the
poor lad. Instead Lee got into position, jumped, and then put his hand in
the wrong place and watched the disc go sailing by for the point. Goldfish
then played the next 12 points on the precipice, with hurricane only needing
one more lucky catch to win. Finally we scored to win, and came off pitch
breathing a big sigh of relief.

Then the rain descended; everyone ran for cover as the tournament stopped to
see if the rain would go away. I didn't, out every one went again and
finished their games, Mohawks pipped Red at the end to win 11 - 9, but Red
then threw their chance of the final by losing to Hurricane 9 - 13. Fingers
6 maintained their perfect record of losing everything but enjoying
themselves.

So the final positions came out as ;
10. Fingers 6
9. Slipdisc
8. Nightfever
7. Mud Culture
6. Hurricane
5. Mad Kows
4. Strange Blue
3. Red

This left Goldfish to play Mohawks Legends in the Final, and after a short
discussion, and a long look at the weather, decided to split the trophy (a
large amount of chocolate) and the result.

Spirit went to Mud Culture who were fun to play, and even more fun to party
with, although every team entered into the spirit of the tournament. Fun was
had by all, and I think we'll do the same again next. But this time to
increase the chance of good weather - we will probably go some where other
than Hitchin.

Cheers,

Chris