This week's fixtures & results League II (winter 2009/2010)

Cosmic vs Black Rebel

Game 1
Both teams start the fixture with a strong bias placed on passing, this results in an even amount of attacking play from both teams with the ball hardly ever hitting a sidewall or getting stuck in a corner, lovely. Cosmic start to pass longer and faster than Black Rebel, resulting in BR being left too committed... Matt breaks to be one-on-one with Roxy and scores, 1-0.

The game starts to become more dominated by Cosmic who are playing a very considered and reserved game. Tom takes advantage of a long pass and scores, 2-0, Matt follows this 20 seconds later, breaking from an intercepted pass, another goal, it's 3-0.

The game stagnates for a few minutes, BR are struggling to find space in Cosmic's half and are often left holding the ball outside of the D waiting for a pass/play to open up. Cosmic hold back and break on forced errors, Todd breaking and getting a goal halfway through the fixture, 4-0.

Black Rebel have had a failed few shots on goal and look eager to get on the scoresheet, there's a bit of messy play in Cosmic's half after Dan holds the ball, both Todd, Tom and BR's Dan footdown and are out of the play, Cosmic Matt grabs the ball and guards it in his own half while a frustrated Roxy shouts to BR's Matt to get the ball and score. BR's Matt goes to challenge for the ball as the other players come back into the game, but Cosmic Matt manages to wrong 'im and almost gets the final goal, Roxy stays strong in goal and dismisses the speedy shot. BR keep attacking and have some nice hook-ups between Dan and Matt, but fail to score. Cosmic re-group after another attack from BR leaves Dan needing to tap back in. Tom goes straight to BR's goal and ends the first game at 10.30, 5-0. BR look disappointed.

Game 2
Both teams re-compose themselves with nods and discussions all round, the second game starts with a couple of failed attacks from either team, but then a speedy long-pass finds Cosmic Tom, he puts it to the right of his bike and shoots, goal, 1-0.

BR look frustrated, they don't want to be trounced again, BR's Matt starts to envoke a "hammer-down" approach in his challenges, slamming his mallet into the floor like a tribal warrior, it seems to rile/worry Dan, so he stops Cosmic Matt in his tracks and intercepts the pass to a confused Todd. No-one's sure exactly what happened, but Dan breaks really quickly and gets a lovely goal, BR are back in the fixture, 1-1.

Both teams are stuck in mid-court with few plays resulting in any shots or breaks on goal, then Cosmic Matt picks up a loose ball from behind his goalline and breaks through the mid-court action to be one-on-one with Roxy, the ball goes in, Cosmic have the lead again, 2-1.

BR's Matt once again slams his mallet to the floor and is eager to get the game going, Dan looks confused by the outburst, but in a sea of calm, passes Matt the ball. Matt takes the ball to half court, and let's a shot fly. It's "speedy" and goes straight in, the game's tied again after only 25 seconds at 2-2.

The game gets more interesting with both teams hooking up well, there are plenty of shots at either goal. Roxy breaks and almost scores, a minute later Todd misses a great opportunity for Cosmic after Roxy foot-downs. The sun comes out at Downham and the spectators get a little warmer and consequently a little louder. Both teams respond to the encouragement, plays start to get faster, but once again Cosmic seem to keep things fast, yet locked down, whereas BR often have to over-commit in their plays on goal. Cosmic Todd overshoots a speedy break towards the BR goal but lets a shot fly regardless. it hits Roxy's angled wheel and goes in, Roxy exclaims that it was "the best goal in polo", 3-2.

The speedy play continues and although BR are fighting back, they seem to be getting frustrated with Cosmic's domination of the court. Dan's overheard shouting "come here you fucker" to no-one in particular. Tom recieves another lovely long pass and shoots, it goes straight in at speed under Roxy's BB, 4-2.

Cosmic Matt steals the ball from BR's Matt shortly after they enter Cosmic's half, Matt "takes it to the kitchen", it's all over at 11.12, 5-2.

Game 3
Cosmic have a big talk pre-game, Golden Wheel refuses to get in position and keeps doing little circles, he ignores my instructions and I worry that I'm not respected as a ref. I decide to let it slide but will probably penalise him later in the game. Game on.

Cosmic win the charge and after a few shared hustles between the two teams, Todd gets the first goal in under a minute after a nice pass from Cosmic Matt, 1-0.

Dan is running all over the court in an attempt to get a break on goal, but Cosmic now seem to be playing a man-on-man approach, the hook-ups between Dan and Matt are dwindling. Todd whacks Dan in the ass with his mallet "my ass" exclaims Dan, Todd apologizes and runs off, Dan chases, Todd gets a shot away before an angry Dan can catch him, goal, 2-0.

My notes are pretty scrawled for the next couple of minutes, I assume this is because BR are fighting hard to try and get a win in the last game, legible elements include BR's Matt hitting Cosmic Matt with a failed FloorSlam™, "wild shotz", "Dan almost" a few times, "Todd almost" a couple of times. "failed pass", "too much dribbling", etc. My notes regroup with Dan and Todd T-boning each other, Dan manages to stay up with his "hoppy, hoppy" tricks, Todd's down. Cosmic Matt seems to foot down out of sympathy for Todd's plight. Dan picks up the ball, but fails to score. There's lots of effort from both teams, but little payoff. The sun comes out again and I have a little stretch, there are too many loose balls on court and this game is paling in comparison to the first. BR's Matt hacks at the ball by Todd's wheel, Todd breaks away from Matt and scores, it's 3-0 with 7 mins left to play.

Play continues and both teams seem to tire of the scrappy behaviour, things start to get tidier again with some sweet hook-ups on either side of the court. Dan foots down and BR's Matt does a great job of holding off Cosmic. The ball ends up at Cosmic's end and Todd starts to break, Dan's back in and goes to chase him. Dan falls pretty badly but isn't hurt, Roxy's angry at Todd for an "elbow", Todd scores, 4-0. (From my position it looked as if Dan was a little eager on the pursuit of Todd who was taking a leading line, Dan rode up Todd's wheel which led to the bail. I didn't see an elbow and Bill confirmed this from the other end of the court. I would have penalised Dan if he hadn't fallen, Todd did nothing wrong, he simply held his line.)

Cosmic look to finish the fixture off, but BR refuse to allow them an easy ride. The pace of the game seems to slow down a little a 12.30, BR manage a great break against Cosmic with another nice pass, but again they're too committed and Cosmic Tom comes through from a failed shot and scores immediately, the game's done at 12.38, 5-0.

There's some bitching after the game about Todd's "elbow", but everything seems to work itself out. Cosmic Tom thinks "bitching's becoming the key to polo" which is a shame. Todd is labelled as a malicious player and the fixture's over.

Short-hand version for game 1: 5-0
Cosmic Matt, 0.46
Cosmic Tom, 2.22
Cosmic Matt, 4.57
Cosmic Todd, 7.05
Cosmic Tom, 10.30

Short-hand version for game 2: 5-2
Cosmic Tom, 0.51
Rebel Dan, 2.10
Cosmic Matt, 4.27
Rebel Matt, 4.51
Cosmic Todd, 6.52
Cosmic Tom, 10.43
Cosmic Matt, 11.12

Short-hand version for game 3: 5-0
Cosmic Todd, 0.46
Cosmic Todd, 2.22
Cosmic Todd, 8.16
Cosmic Todd, 10.24
Cosmic Tom, 12.38

Well played both teams.