Women's Day Four: More wins please!

Up again at the crack of dawn, and the early starts were beginning to take their toll, and becoming that little bit harder now that the excitement was wearing off a bit. It was time for the last game of our group, against the Latvians. They had lost all of their games to that day, so we were pretty confident that we could beat them and quite solidly. We started off strongly and began to get some points on the scoreboard. However, they were a better team than we had an anticipated, with some very good hands, grabbing stuff out of the air that hadn’t necessarily been thrown the best. Still, they also had a high turnover rate, and we were able to monopolise on this, taking the half by 4 points, if not more. After the break, we came back in, and luckily weren’t having too much trouble scoring our O points, but again they were getting a lot of high break throws off that felt frustratingly hard to stop. Luckily though we had the legs on them, and so we could out run them and take advantage of any turns they did end up making. In the end it was a pretty convincing 17-9 win, not without it’s hairy moments though!

With the group games over, it was time to face another fault with the women’s schedule: no crossovers. Having only won two games in our original pool, we were left in the bottom 6 pool with result carrying over, meaning that we were to still play France, Russia and Austria, before a final placing game. This was to be pretty frustrating, especially when we noticed the performances of some of the teams from the other pool (GB beating Netherlands 17-5,who we also beat in Brugge, and the Swiss ending up in third place) and will be something I will be bringing to the attention of the organisers.

Onwards and upwards though, and our first game of the bottom half saw us face the French, who were top of the bottom half of their group as well. We started off trading points, and then a dropped pull on their part led to a key score, or so we thought. Following that we then got another D point, and things started to really come together. Their heads were down, and we were really at the top of our game. We continued to push out the Ds (even a contested Callaghan from Sinead couldn't hold us back), were playing better offence than we had all week, and we were duly rewarded with a fine win over a team that had completely demolished us in Brugge. 17-9 to the Greens! Brilliant stuff!

MVP of the day: Sinead O’Sheil Flemming

Women's Day Three: Sweden and GB too strong to shake

Again it was a hot day, and the game started off with both teams trading points and scoring after some really good offence. They had some lovely long points, and so did we. This team were quite similar to us in terms of fitness and endurance so it was important to us to keep possession and make every disc catchable, as anything up in the air was likely to be taken down by a leggy blonde! Unfortunately as it came to the half, they got the much needed D point and they ended up leading 9-7. We came back into play on Defence, and they scored the offence point, and soon we were trailing by a bigger gap. We tried pulling a zone, and managed to get a turn, but in the end the gap was too much, the heads were down, and we ended up losing 17-12.

The GB game kicked off at 1pm, so it was time to pick the heads up and get ready. Favourites for the tournament, we knew this was going to be a tough game, and that we had little chance of winning it, so we went into the game with the added knowledge that our top 8 dreams were over. We started off well, making sure to punish the poaching that they like to use, but they were still able to force the turnovers and their quick turn-arounds on offence and great receivers meant that they were wracking up the points. The two teams fought really hard and there was definitely a good bit of argy bargy through the whole game (a disc to the face of defensive marks on each team and some dubious calls from an intimidating sideline) but we were never really in the running for a lot of points, and they ended up deserved winners 17-4.

MVP of the Day: Yvonne Halpin

Women's Day Two: Swiss game = lie in

Due to the punishing women’s schedule, this would be are only morning we had off and didn’t have to get up at 6.30am. However, most of us were awake anyway and headed in to watch the open team bagel the Czechs and play some great ultimate against the Italians before heading over the road to play the Swiss. Having watched their earlier confident defeat of the Swedish, we knew we were in for a tough game, and knew that this team were definitely better than their 12th seed (the seeding being one of the many flaws of the Women’s schedule).

We started off strong scoring a number of the first points and taking a strong lead. They pulled back and soon we were trading points coming up to the half. Then they brought out their zone and things started to get a little bit tougher. As the sun beat down and the wind constantly changed direction and force, it wasn’t long before we were turning over and they were capitalising. I also managed to land on my shoulder, putting myself out of the game for a number of points and lessening our already small group of handlers. They took the half by a lead of two points and our heads went down a little.

Coming into the second half we were still fighting though, and managed to pull some points out with some really great offence against the zone, and when they did turn us, the points would last for ages as each team continued to fight for the D-points. However, when it came down to it they had some really fast runners and some really great handlers, and the zone just ended up being too much for us in the end. Final score at the time cap was 17-9.


MVP of the day: Sparky Booker

Women's Day one: It's even...one loss, one win.

After the minor set back of not having any green jerseys for the team (bit of a manufacturing problem) and getting past the hurdle of waking up at 6.30am to get breakfast before the game (not really too hard when your as nervous as we were) we walked out against a strong German side for our first game. Tipped for big things, there was no denying that this was a well drilled and experienced team, but that there were also feeling the nerves, and the first few points got off to a slow start with a number of turnovers off both teams. However, their offence had some excellent handlers who could work it quickly up the pitch and they soon and knocked up a number of scores before we could even manage one. Finally we managed to pull some scores together from a number of long points and against a zone that they ran, but our own nerves were our worst enemy, and they finished up the win 17-5. Not the greatest of starts to our week, but we also knew that we hadn’t played to our best, so there was still a lot to play for.

With another game at 1pm, we had to eat quickly before heading to warm up. We were to play the Belgians, and after beating them at Tom’s Tourney we were confident this could be our first win. But we didn’t want to be too certain about it, and ended up going 3-1 down at the beginning! Still, we always felt like the stronger team, and it wasn’t long before we started to pull ahead, and took the half. Our defence was really making an impact, and we were managing to make them turn over a number of times. After the half I think we only ended up conceding maybe 3 points, and then settled into a comfortable, 17-9 win, a first for Irish women and a really great feeling!!

MVP of the day: Laura McGrath

Another view point...

Mark did an excellent job of keeping people up to date about what was going on all week, afraid we weren’t so great at it on the ladies side, so here’s a little retrospective of the week that was from a women's game point of view...

EUC 2007 - Final Standings

After the finals day on Saturday here are the final standings from the Open, Women and Mixed Divisions:

OPEN

1. Great Britain
2. Sweden
3. Switzerland
4. Finland
5. Germany
6. Ireland
7. France
8. Denmark - SPIRIT WINNERS
9. Russia
10. Netherlands
11. Belgium
12. Italy
13. Austria
14. Sklovakia
15. Latvia
16. Czech Republic

WOMEN

1. Finland
2. Great Britain
3. Switzerland
4. Germany
5. Denmark
6. Italy
7. Sweden
8. Netherlands
9. France
10. Ireland
11. Austria
12. Russia
13. Latvia
14. Belgium - SPIRIT WINNERS

MIXED

1. Great Britain
2. Czech Republic - SPIRIT WINNERS
3. Germany
4. France
5. Belgium
6. Finland
7. Italy

Day Six - the last games of the week

The final day of competition for all teams but the finalists saw both the Irish teams take on France at 11am. The Women were playing for 9th place and the Open team for the chance to play in a playoff game for 5th.

The first time the Women met the French it was a tight match with the Irish girls coming out on top. This time the French had revenge. Unfotunately I didnt see (or photograph!) any of the game but heard it was another closely fought affair. 14-12 I think...

Meanwhile the Mens team were having a battle on a far away pitch. The French had lost badly to GB and wanted revenge for the group game we'd won 17-12. Both teams started well, the disc being played long but the two Defences were on top as turnovers were forced repeatedly. We traded until 5-5 when we began to put the foot down and closed out the half 9-6. The second half was more of the same with the advantage remaining with us until 16-11 when the French began using a Zone to good effect. They scored 4 in a row and rattled us well but eventually the O line put away the final score to win 17-15 and gaurantee at least 6th place!


The last game of the week was a tough one against the 5th seeds, Germnay, for 5th place. There offence was fast and precise and their throws assured. We threw all we could at them but didnt get any joy against a clever zone and a calm attack. Small mistakes crept in under pressure from the zone and in the end they won out deserved winners 17-9.

We had a great laugh with them afterwards and shared some Bucky too! We also met Hans Tirol, a new hero for us. 'He's gotta be small, he's gotta be German, he's gotta be faster than light - I need Hans Tirol!'


So, the dust is slowly settling and we're all delighted. Both teams came away with 5 wins each, with big wins against teams we never thought we'd beat a year ago. The Women gained huge experience and will come back a stronger team next time around with a Quarter-final their goal. The Open team will keep working and who knows?? To finish sixth ahead of the likes of the Netherlands, French and Italians is amazing. Here's hoping it's only the beginning!!

More Photos

Day Five - Women on fire! Men lose to strong Swiss...

The fifth day of EUC competition saw the two Irish teams fortunes take different paths - there was happiness for the Ladies who won a further 2 games (that's 5 wins out of 9!) but disappointment for the Open team who's first appearance in an international quarter-final finished in a crushing defeat at the hands of a strong Swiss team. Best start with the good news...

Another 9am start in overcast and humid conditions saw the Irish Ladies take on Austria in the second last of their 'Bottom Six' group games. The Austrians were fired up and started well with a Zone Defence that looked strong but soon the girls adapted to it and were scoring with ease. It was 9-5 at half-time before the Austrians made a play for the game with a run of points bringing it to 10-8. The Irish Ladies were having none of it though and as the game wore on pushed further ahead to close out a 17-11 win, with a Callahan goal for Catherine being the highlight!


Game Two of the Day was against the Russians at 1pm. They were no match for the Irish who exploited a weak defence and shaky throws to run amok. 9-1 at halftime and 17-4 at the finish, it was an excellent and ruthless show by the girls who now face France in the 9th/10th place playoff. As the dust settles the organisers will have to face serious questions over the Womens Division. Not only were there no crossovers (unlike the Open Div) in a Division where 4 new teams were competing, but there was also 5 consecutive 9am starts. Apparently this was because 'the Open Division had more to offer spectators'...


Pitch 11 was the field on which the Ladies demolished the Russians, the field where the Open team beat the French and the field where our big match took place today. It's still a pretty open wound at this stage, a little raw... We approached the game like every other, knowing who we were as a team, what we had to do and the size of the task ahead of us. We were bidding for a place in the top four. We were ready, we were psyched and we wanted it bad. We ran into a brick wall made up a Swiss team who with a better draw might even make the Final. Their Offence was fast, cutting to break and openside with throws going across or around the mark. Their handlers were clever and had throws to beat the band. Their defence was unerring - hassling every throw, just behind every catcher and swarming under any disc. There was no space for anyone, anywhere. They got turns and converted them time and time again. It wasnt even as though we did anything wrong, we simply weren't allowed do anthing right! There's nothing else to say...the best team won and they wone well beating us 17-4. Next up for them are GB, who cruised past France. It's the French again for us...11am tomorrow morning for a shot at 5th.

It ain't gonna be easy...

Day Four - French Double but Plucky Swedes pip Irish Open

I'm absolutley shattered after a great day's Ultimate so I'll keep this short and sweet. At 9.00am the Ladies put on a great display to beat the Latvians 17-9. At 11.00am the Men played France and won 17-12 in a strong, determined display of hard D and patient O. After lunch and an interview on radio and BBC TV the Women beat France in a tough 17-9 encounter,the first half was close but the girls put in a massive performance to win out well in the end. At 5pm the Men took on Sweden, the number 1 seeds and played well again, losing 17-13 (the closest the Swedes have been to a loss yet).






















Tomorrow sees the Ladies play at 9am again, against the Austians while the Men will take on the winner of Itlay vs Switzerland for a place in the semis. We are currently the 3rd seeds of the Championships!

Good night!