20th & 21st September, Manchester
Polytechnic – Manchester: 7 – 21
Being a game we had limited chances of winning, we decided beforehand to see it as a good chance to practice what we had been training on – and if we were close to them or winning, go for it. There were good parts in our game, but there were bad parts as well. When we play a good press in our defence, we have two of the best pit-defenders in the league and face no difficulties. When we are man down and everyone plays a dynamic, active defence, we manage to do well and save a few goals. When we circulate the ball nicely in attack and pass a good ball in the pit, where we are lucky to have strong pit players, we either score or get a major. When we play man up, if we stick to our ‘overload’ tactic, we score goals easily. The bad thing is that we seem to do all of the above only for a small part of the game. Again, it was our mistakes when we attack that gave the ball away and allowed them to score a few goals on a break.
Polytechnic – Invicta: 3 – 12
By far the worst game I have ever seen us play. We knew it was a game we had to win. We knew what tactics they would play and what tactics we had to play. We simply messed up! It was the worst game-play ever against a team that despite their bad goalie, they decided to play a drop. For some reason we would not try our shots, and when we did, they were under the worst circumstances and allowed them to counter. We started the game well but were unlucky to hit the post a few times while they were clinical in their finishing and we found ourselves 0-2 down. And then disaster! In the second and third quarter, we simply were not in the pool. The only thing we did right, was out man-down defence where I believe everyone is now convinced that the concept of and active and dynamic defence is working. I hope this game will be a good weak-up call and we start fresh the next weekend when we must win at least one game.
Lancaster – Polytechnic: 27 – 6
I know we should see every game seriously and claim any chances we have for a win, but no one really believed we would win this one and no one really tried to. What we should however do with such games, is use them to practise what we have been training on. There are very few teams – if any – that swim as fast as Lancaster, so we know what we have to do. Keep ball possession in attack and have good timing when trying to cover back. If you can not swim faster than you opponent, try to stop them from swimming, or start swimming before they do. There were periods during the game when we stood up to them and proved that Polytechnic is a really good team. But again, lacking fitness means that these are just bright exceptions in our game. Only when we can play for four quarters concentrated and up to our level can we start winning games.
The best thing out of this game – and I believe everyone who played will agree – is the performance of our team junior, Josh Brown. In his first weekend in NL and against probably the best team in UK now, Josh did exceptionally well. Scored a great first-ever goal, won a penalty, tried to do his best in defence and showed to some of us how focused and determined we have to be to turn things round for Poly. Well done Josh!
