the dingoes went into the semi final facing the USA. The Condors had beaten us previously, but we were confident of our ability. Matt was back along with Chris and we were competitive in the first few points. Our long game was effective in part, and we were shutting down their offence fairly well. Failure to convert simple opportunities in front of the endzone meant we gave the USA the lead. They took half 9-4. Jonathan Potts delivered a stirring speech at half time and we regrouped. The second half was an improvement on the first but the condors defence was stifling. We managed a sting of 3 or 4 points and we were in with a sniff but the opposition keep their heads and prevailed 17-11 (I think). We weren't terribly disappointed and immediately set our minds to the task of grabbing that bronze medal.
Sweden lost to Canada earlier and we were to once again stand toe to toe with them. The 5pm game drew a bit of a crowd. Thanks to the Aussie that supported us through this game. The game wasn't terribly pretty but it was better spirited than the previous match. Trading until half we psyched ourselves up and came out firing. Their offence was under pressure for the whole game and we amnaged to sneak 5 of the last 6 goals, winning 17-11. Bronze baby! I think the feeling in the team after the game was happiness and pride. More than a year of work and effort had given us a medal at the world championships. Well done Dingoes! Fuckin' beauty!
Ken.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
day 6
day 6
we played Japan in the morning. This game didn't mean a whole lot, as we had established first place in our pool of six and Japan had established fourth position. We went down 17-11 I think.
In the afternoon we had a quarterfinal. Against Denmark. They liked to huck it a lot. With a non existent stack (everyone level with the disc) they tried to isolate a deep cut and this worked occasionally. We traded until about half and then managed to pull away as many of their players remained on the field for every point. Our persistent defense and steady offence won us the game. Apprarently our offence missed only once in converting. End score 17-10. As a side note, I was tken out by an innocent and wayward elbow in the second last point by a guy called Thor. I thought this was a little ironic. He was a nice bloke too.
Ken.
we played Japan in the morning. This game didn't mean a whole lot, as we had established first place in our pool of six and Japan had established fourth position. We went down 17-11 I think.
In the afternoon we had a quarterfinal. Against Denmark. They liked to huck it a lot. With a non existent stack (everyone level with the disc) they tried to isolate a deep cut and this worked occasionally. We traded until about half and then managed to pull away as many of their players remained on the field for every point. Our persistent defense and steady offence won us the game. Apprarently our offence missed only once in converting. End score 17-10. As a side note, I was tken out by an innocent and wayward elbow in the second last point by a guy called Thor. I thought this was a little ironic. He was a nice bloke too.
Ken.
Friday, August 06, 2004
day 5 action
day 5
The dingoes played Sweden and Germany. The location was Kaarina, where we hadn't previously played. There are about 6 fields in the next town which is about 8 km from the main fields at Kupitaa. The morning game against Sweden was intense. Dingoes scored the first 4 points, helped by several blocks, one of which was a layout d by Roger Bralow. The Swedes didn't react terribly well to being down. They disputed calls with unnecessary force and even resorted to ficticious stories. We weren't angels ourselves, but it wasn't a pleasant ultimate atmosphere. Australia took half 9-3. We were dominating. The Swedes came back in the second half to make it 9-6. I think the rest of the game followed serve and at time cap it was perhaps 14-11. Game to 16. So with some considered offence and angry defence we came through winning 16-12.
Germany seemed like a difficult opponent. They had beaten Sweden and had some quick athletes. Sacha plied us with some info on their plays and their players. We played on a field in the middle of an athletic track which was a great surface. There was little wind and we set about our task of dismantling their offence. Some errors on their part let us into the game and gave us a lead. Our offence connected from the beginning. Anthony Dowle stood out in this game reeling in what the Germans later described as god-like catches. Hafl we were up 9-3. The second half was also good and our long game was effective. The dingoes with a second victory for the day 17-8.
Ken.
The dingoes played Sweden and Germany. The location was Kaarina, where we hadn't previously played. There are about 6 fields in the next town which is about 8 km from the main fields at Kupitaa. The morning game against Sweden was intense. Dingoes scored the first 4 points, helped by several blocks, one of which was a layout d by Roger Bralow. The Swedes didn't react terribly well to being down. They disputed calls with unnecessary force and even resorted to ficticious stories. We weren't angels ourselves, but it wasn't a pleasant ultimate atmosphere. Australia took half 9-3. We were dominating. The Swedes came back in the second half to make it 9-6. I think the rest of the game followed serve and at time cap it was perhaps 14-11. Game to 16. So with some considered offence and angry defence we came through winning 16-12.
Germany seemed like a difficult opponent. They had beaten Sweden and had some quick athletes. Sacha plied us with some info on their plays and their players. We played on a field in the middle of an athletic track which was a great surface. There was little wind and we set about our task of dismantling their offence. Some errors on their part let us into the game and gave us a lead. Our offence connected from the beginning. Anthony Dowle stood out in this game reeling in what the Germans later described as god-like catches. Hafl we were up 9-3. The second half was also good and our long game was effective. The dingoes with a second victory for the day 17-8.
Ken.
further update continued
day 4 continued..
the second falcon occurred when a Lith. dude went for a layout catch while on offence and macked it into one of his team mates sitting on the sideline. Yep, square in the face. End result 17-2.
Game 2 was against Holland. Holland, Sweden, Germany, Japan, Finland and Australia were in one top pool of six, and Canada, USA, Great Britain, Denmark, Switzerland and Italy were in the other. Top four in each go through to the quarters. We carried through our win over Finland. So Holland had a few familiar faces, Michael Cummings, Andrew Vincent and Miguel. They were mostly tall and athletic. I think Sol in this game got 4 blocks. A big effort. Some points were short and sweet, others were rather drawn out. We won it 17-11 nearing time cap.
Ken.
the second falcon occurred when a Lith. dude went for a layout catch while on offence and macked it into one of his team mates sitting on the sideline. Yep, square in the face. End result 17-2.
Game 2 was against Holland. Holland, Sweden, Germany, Japan, Finland and Australia were in one top pool of six, and Canada, USA, Great Britain, Denmark, Switzerland and Italy were in the other. Top four in each go through to the quarters. We carried through our win over Finland. So Holland had a few familiar faces, Michael Cummings, Andrew Vincent and Miguel. They were mostly tall and athletic. I think Sol in this game got 4 blocks. A big effort. Some points were short and sweet, others were rather drawn out. We won it 17-11 nearing time cap.
Ken.
day 2
The second day for the Dingoes was a bit less spectacular with a lot of rain and a game against Italy. The Italians were keen and energetic and the conditions were atrocious. A huge down pur just before the game meant we had to make cuts and run in conditions similar to Coffs Harbour. The tournament organisers weren't too happy about the fields being churned up. After conceeding the first point we managed to build upon some good blocks and took the half about 9-5. Our defence improved and began to reign in the Italian offence. Final score 17-9.
day 3
Day 3 saw the dingoes face USA and Ireland. The USA game was an eye opener and a test. We had beaten all US teams in our pre tour and this was our first US team for the tournament. Their defence was pretty good and pressured us into several mistakes. A bit of a cowd turned up to see the emerging Aussies confront an established force in Ultimate. We couldn't quite string a bunch of points together and went down 17-8.
In the afternoon we faced Ireland. They were keen to play a team with experience at the top level. They had competed at last year's European Championships, but were the only inexperienced team there. So they we keen to improve. This wasn't one of our better games but we managed to score and get blocks in succession. The opposition was some of the most enthusiastic we have come across. Their sideline was also very well organised. The ladies, that is. Dingoes win 17-5.
day 4
Game 1 was against Lithuania to finish the first round games. They too were a very inexperienced team at the top level. With a win we would place second in the pool and progress to a top pool of six. Lithuania were adventurous in their play, not afraid to break the mark or launch the disc. There were several amusing moments in the game when one of the Lithuanian receivers was set to catch a blade in the endzone for a goal. The wind picked up, or he misjudged it slightly and it hit him square on the nose. Falcon # 1...
The second day for the Dingoes was a bit less spectacular with a lot of rain and a game against Italy. The Italians were keen and energetic and the conditions were atrocious. A huge down pur just before the game meant we had to make cuts and run in conditions similar to Coffs Harbour. The tournament organisers weren't too happy about the fields being churned up. After conceeding the first point we managed to build upon some good blocks and took the half about 9-5. Our defence improved and began to reign in the Italian offence. Final score 17-9.
day 3
Day 3 saw the dingoes face USA and Ireland. The USA game was an eye opener and a test. We had beaten all US teams in our pre tour and this was our first US team for the tournament. Their defence was pretty good and pressured us into several mistakes. A bit of a cowd turned up to see the emerging Aussies confront an established force in Ultimate. We couldn't quite string a bunch of points together and went down 17-8.
In the afternoon we faced Ireland. They were keen to play a team with experience at the top level. They had competed at last year's European Championships, but were the only inexperienced team there. So they we keen to improve. This wasn't one of our better games but we managed to score and get blocks in succession. The opposition was some of the most enthusiastic we have come across. Their sideline was also very well organised. The ladies, that is. Dingoes win 17-5.
day 4
Game 1 was against Lithuania to finish the first round games. They too were a very inexperienced team at the top level. With a win we would place second in the pool and progress to a top pool of six. Lithuania were adventurous in their play, not afraid to break the mark or launch the disc. There were several amusing moments in the game when one of the Lithuanian receivers was set to catch a blade in the endzone for a goal. The wind picked up, or he misjudged it slightly and it hit him square on the nose. Falcon # 1...
dingoes update
A quick overview of proceedings so far.
day 1
Opening ceremony. The dingoes warmed up on a field near the paavo nurmi stadium, missing the opening ceremony in the centre of Turku. The cheers and screams of the approaching Aussies was enormous fuel for our adrenalin. There were several thousand spectators in the stands as we ran out on to the field. The dedicated Australian teams in the stands and their vociferous support meant that the home ground advantage wasn't exactly that.
The game was fast paced and the Fins were determined. Some great plays from Tom, Ant, Jonno and good old Wavy allowed us to take half 9-8. The second half started well and the lead got to 15-11. Two points to win. After some nervous moments on offence we finally took it out 17-15. Reports from the crowd suggest it was an exciting and eventful game and we made life difficult for ourselves on occasion.
More to come shortly.
Ken.
day 1
Opening ceremony. The dingoes warmed up on a field near the paavo nurmi stadium, missing the opening ceremony in the centre of Turku. The cheers and screams of the approaching Aussies was enormous fuel for our adrenalin. There were several thousand spectators in the stands as we ran out on to the field. The dedicated Australian teams in the stands and their vociferous support meant that the home ground advantage wasn't exactly that.
The game was fast paced and the Fins were determined. Some great plays from Tom, Ant, Jonno and good old Wavy allowed us to take half 9-8. The second half started well and the lead got to 15-11. Two points to win. After some nervous moments on offence we finally took it out 17-15. Reports from the crowd suggest it was an exciting and eventful game and we made life difficult for ourselves on occasion.
More to come shortly.
Ken.
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