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From: "HUGHES, Chris" <CHughes@chelt.ac.uk>
To: "'BritDisc'" <britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk>
Subject: Horse Bandits Win Nationals!
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 15:18:28 +0100
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A tournament report from Indoor Nationals at Plymouth. Be warned this report
is based on my recollection, and under no circumstances be taken as fact.

Pool A
Headed by regional winners BAF and Strange Blue, pool A looked the tougher
of the two, although both these teams had one eye looking behind them
expecting to see the Horse Bandit come trampling up through the pool.
Neither team was disappointed, although it is fair to say that with the
possible exception of Picnic and 3 frogs, no-one in the pool was dismissed
out of hand. SBlue lost to Horse Bandits early in the day by 3 points, and
BAF had a poor game to lose by 4 points to the Bandits. This left a crunch
match for our last game on Saturday against SBlue with the  winner making it
to the semi's. BAF won comfortably to make a top four slot. 3 Frogs headed
down the placings, to be passed by Skunks and Baboom coming up. Picnic, in
as hosts scored their only(?) win of the weekend by beating 3 Frogs.

Pool B
The Druids cruised the majority of their games, as expected to win their
pool. However this was not without a major wobble against Nightfever, coming
from behind to win 9-8 in the dying seconds. Their progress was made easier
by the temporary absence of Sammy, leaving Chevron to take on Druids with
only four players. (Sammy's absence was not down to the quantities of
alcohol consumed the night before, and instead due to the Bears evicting him
from their minibus, as they ran out of seats.) This left Mud Culture, seeded
second in the pool, to fight off the challenge of Chevron, and D Bob, to
maintain second slots in the pool. Bears came screaming up from final place
in the pool to fight with the big boys at the top, and angels slipped a
couple of places down the pool. As mentioned Nightfever almost had their
moment of glory against the Druids. A moment of controversy arose as in the
dying seconds of the D Bob / Angels game Chris Berry put the Hail Mary up to
Jo Thompson in an attempt to win the game, and as Jo went up for the disc,
was fouled (not deliberately) by an Angels player. Uncontested foul -
possession on the end zone, but before the disc could be recovered, the
clock ran out. Both teams felt this was an unfortunate way to end the game,
and wished to play the 22 second point again. However this had implications
for other teams, and their results, and similarly other games that had
finished on foul / travel / etc. calls. Hence the result stood. Expect the
debate on playing games to time to continue....

Semi's
Possibly Some of the most exciting ultimate it has been my pleasure to
watch, and be involved in.
First up Mexican Horse Bandits v Mud Culture. The expected easy route for
Horse Bandits to progress into final never materialised. Horse Bandits cam
out firing and took an early control of the game. Back came Mud Culture with
some outstanding defence and repeatedly pressurised the Bandits into turning
over, with Mud always staying that point ahead. Then with a minute to go, a
D in their own zone got Mud the disc. Some tactical planning and possession
to run out the clock was in order, and Mud were in the final. Apart from one
wobbly toss pass that was fumbled under pressure; now Bandits have the disc,
and with seconds to go, score to bring the game level at 10 all, and enter
sudden death. Mud Culture receive the pull, patiently work it up field, then
slightly over cook a sidearm into the zone, just out of reach of the
receiver. Steve Shapely, the guru of patient ultimate collects the disc,
assesses his options, and decides to show us what happens if he lets go of
that hammer fake. This hits the wall, well over Norms head. However, Steve
demonstrates what a masterful tactian that he is - obviously he played for
territorial gain - as Bandits force the turnover in Mud's half and get the
score to progress to the final.

Next up BAF v Druids. In a recreation of the final last year, Merrick
Cardew, and Wayne Davey, were the ones out to get D's. The game was
extremely tight, and included that rare event, a Batchelor layout. The
Druids pulled away to a two point cushion at 7-5. Neither team made a
breakthrough, until BAF scored 3 unanswered points to make the score 10-9.
BAF try to slow the game with a zone, but Druids score to level, another
score to BAF, makes the score 11-10, and BAF throw another zone as Druids
receive the disc with less than a minute to go. A couple of passes leaves
Wayne to attempt to stick out a leg to try and land in the zone with seconds
to go. However, he can't get the other leg out of the way, and lands
straddling the line. As BAF relax, Wayne amazed that the hooter hasn't gone
tries a last ditch pass to Pete Hallet from the floor, which is just
intercepted by G Kellman, leave a Horse Bandits - BAF final.

I was out playing golf, so I missed all the playoff games.

The Final (You'll be pleased to know I can't remember much);
Unlike the pool game BAF, comes out firing, and quickly take the score to
4-1. The cushion was slowly eroded by Horse Bandits who leveled the score at
8-8, The cap was set at 11-9 with Horse Bandits in ascendancy, and only
needing 2 points to make it. I remember the last point being far too quick,
with a rapid turnover by me, and an even faster transition by Steve. The
game was tough and a fantastic Compton. 

Horse Bandits won Spirit of the Game, Rik Shapely won MVP, and I will get
the trophies to you all eventually (D'oh!)

Many thanks to Kerry, and Picnic. It was a great event, and I will put the
full list of finishing positions, as soon as I get one.

Chris
DoC