Tourney: Euro Bench - Bristol - July 20/21

What Jono said +headsets

Any chance of someone writing up a fair minded summary or review of the event?

What Jono said +headsets

chris king?

Any chance of someone writing up a fair minded summary or review of the event?

I'm afraid not, we all collectively agreed that what happens in bristol will stay in bristol a bit like jess not being privy to the london conspiracy. Thats how strict the conspiracy is.

The kids of St Pauls will never shoplift again for fear of the Beaglegilante!

"Pay for that shit!"

I think Caro Paulette may be doing a writeup on her blog. Somehow she knows how everything went down... But really it was just one goal for Paul's team, one goal for Will's then Paul then Will.... Taken to 10mins overtime where Paul showed his two grumpy old teammates why he should be captain of the polo team 16-13

I'm afraid not, we all collectively agreed that what happens in bristol will stay in bristol a bit like jess not being privy to the london conspiracy. Thats how strict the conspiracy is.

Fair do's - long live the conspiracy!

On another note, tramp beers at a park after a tourney is the way forward. Way more fun and least expensive option to get pissed! ;)

I'd love to do a proper writeup at some point... I have statistics from the first four games I reffed which I will post later on.

biased post I just wanted to say what an awesome captain Paul was and how gracious the whole team were. I was subbed in last minute to replace a much stronger player and although they were three players down at one point, the team just got on without complaint. They rotated really well on court and were super encouraging to each other. Anthony was definitely my MVP, scoring, defending and saving some rad goals, his bike was broken twice and he got taken out so many times illegally. 0 moans! So yeah, I'm glad we won. biased post

The reffing situation really needs to be improved, reffing three games in a row was nakkering and having players argue with you when they didn't understand the rules themselves was pretty jokes. Especially as a goal ref, having the team stood next to you scream at you is pretty intimidating. I know not all the reffing was of a high standard but myself and others did their best and even when some of us played, we goal reffed the games inbetween. It was sad to see non-playing people not helping to ref or goal ref. Big up to the Beagle who was a legend all week!! Yes, I agree, goal refs should be able to advise the ref also.

Loved the beers and frolics in the park <3 Thanks Eddy for driving me there and back too.

On a side note, if John's not around next year I would love to organise this tourney...

Awesome Jess.

I'm hoping that somewhere else in Europe wants do to it, but if you want to, take it on.

how gracious the whole team were

It's easy to be gracious when you keep winning!

I agree with you though: Polo's team were composed at all times and were excellent to watch/play. I think he definitely got the most out of some of his players (young Alex and Anthony especially).

You and John should have come on in the final when he was 3 goals up with 30 seconds left though, the crowd would have gone nuts!

You and John should have come on in the final when he was 3 goals up with 30 seconds left though, the crowd would have gone nuts!

+1

Awesome Jess.

I'm hoping that somewhere else in Europe wants do to it, but if you want to, take it on.

I will be in France ;) beagle winky!

You and John should have come on in the final when he was 3 goals up with 30 seconds left though, the crowd would have gone nuts!

I don't think I could have taken the pressure but I really enjoyed coaching when Paul was playing. We definitely won at least two games on pure tactics!

Then do it.

L'Euro Bench 2014 Paris ;)

Depends where the Euros are next year or even Worlds ;)

Awesome Jess.

I'm hoping that somewhere else in Europe wants do to it, but if you want to, take it on.

Already looking into that (Amsterdam).

I agree that screaming at the ref was not cool at all. I would say though. if you are going to ref, you need to make a decision to cut out the dirty play early, talk to the players beforehand, tell them where your limits lie. Tell them when they are pushing the limits. Stop the game for a second, give a ball turn over.
In my opinion during ours and Ale's game, Ben did not take the game into control. Jess went to speak to him twice and told him what was happening in the corner he couldnt quite see and he just shook his head and turned away. You need to work in a team with your goal refs. You dont need to let them sway your decision, but you shouldnt simply wave them off IMO.
He had ample opportunity to exert authority very early on. There was plenty of fouling going on from both sides and the first time it happens you need to react to show the players you are not willing to allow it.
Ben allowed everything, that is to say he did not punish a single foul, so they just got worse and worse. Whether i agreed with every decision Mayeut made or not, he clamped down immediately by turning the ball over and speaking to the players, rather than waving away every protest. n fact i disagreed with Mayeut several times, but i respect his reffing because he communicates with all the players. I think the ball turnover is the most powerful tool in the refs arsenal. It is a simple way of saying 'you cannot do that, so give them the ball'. even if people disagree, at least nobody gets hurt, scored on or fucked over by a bad decision. A ref that makes a decision you dont agree with can control a game better than a ref that makes no decisions because it encourages players to tit for tat. But that is a minor crit that was not aimed at ben only, just that it was relevant to the worst players reactions (ours).

Obviously I wasn't there so can't comment on Ben, but my worst reffing game was seabasses team against someone equally good at the euro's, I didn't take control early and it rapidly descended into chaos, there was so much borderline play that I couldn't really call anything as I should have called a foul preceding it...

Anyway Ben and I were talking about reffing on Monday and he said he was going to send someone off at the beginning of the next game he refs, so I think he knows he let the game get away from him :)

there should be a wink in that comment form ben surely?

I heard he was going to punch the goal refs and then get naked.

Already looking into that (Amsterdam).

Well, you do have that great court, would be awesome for that.

6 teams, 1 court.

He should use a marker pen as a warning. 1st offense mustache, 2nd offense big cock on the forehead.

That would be an unfair handicap for Los Bigotes and other pre-moustached players.

B rep'd, can we have that in the LO ruleset? Beagle allowed to penalise players by drawing on their faces? Please?

Can we get Ray to play, then we can get the touching rays face at the same time?

Hmm em you have a point, but then i didnt say what colour marker did i?....