Jo_x
Well-Known Member
we went to rugby polo club (at onley grounds EC) for a uni tournament last weekend. I was playing in the novice division, which is for people who have been playing longer than just this academic year, but dont have a handicap. Theres quite a wide range of ability in the novice division, as it varies from people (like me) who only started last year, to people who have been playing with their school for years but have never played with a proper club and so got a handicap. So I was quite nervous!
At the big uni tournaments they split each divison (beginner, novice, intermediate, etc) into sub divisions, so all the first teams play each other, all the second teams play each other, etc. This was a much smaller tournament so all the novice teams (11) were in one division.
Our first match was against Nottinghams fourth team. The pressure was on as neither of our beginner teams had lost a match all morning and we didn't want to ruin the track record! We had a great game and won 5-0 :cool3: I started to feel a bit sorry for them by the end as the ball only crossed into their half of the arena a couple of times.
Some pics:
warming up
the team
in the line up
Our second match was against nottinghams first team - so a bit of a step up! This was a really fast match, probably the hardest one of the weekend. We drew 2-2 (thanks to two fouls from them right in front of the goal we were going for, meaning we were awarded automatic goals) and so we had to have a penalty shout out. It was such a fun game that we were chatting to the other team before the penalties started and we all agreed that none of us really cared who won on penalties, as the game had been so even. Which was all very nice, but unfortunately we needed a winner :biggrin3:
Being by far the weakest hitter on the team, I went last, in case we drew after the first 3 penalties and had to go to sudden death. Nottingham went first, and so I was the last to go. After the first 5 had had their shot, the score was 1-1, so if I scored then we'd win. I'm not very good at penalties (I'm much better when I don't have too much time to think!) so I tried to relax, take my time, and hit the ball perfectly on target to the goal... only for it to stop before it got there
So it went to sudden death, and my teammate scored so we won 
The pro photographer missed our match, and it was a bit dark and fast for my friends camera, but theres a couple of not very good ones:
im on the nearest horse
this isnt me, but gives a good indication of how fast it was!
As winners of our section, it meant that us and two birmingham teams (who had each won their respective sections) were fighting it out for the top 3 positions.
We played their second team first, this was another really good game. I scored my first goal of the weekend and we won 1-0.
The two birmingham teams played each other, this was probably the best match of the weekend, they really fought for it! We were egging on the second team (who we'd just beaten) as if they won then all we needed to do was draw against their first team to win overall. The second team did win (much to the surprise of the birmingham supporters), but the game left us under no illusions that a win would be easy!
The last match was really well fought, and felt very evenly matched. Unfortunately luck wasn't on our side, and whilst all our attempts at goal didn't quite make it, Birmingham's did. I think the final score was 4-0 (both teams had lost count by the end) but it felt like a much more even match than the result suggested - not to take anything away from Bham, as they definitely deserved the win. There are some pro pics here http://peterjamesphotography.com/po...o-2013-sun-23-11-13/sun-warwick-v-bham-again/ I'm on the dark bay with the big white star, I think I'm going to buy 2867 or the one after it, as I don't have any good ride-off photos.
As each of the three teams in the finals had won a match, the final results were decided on goal difference. We won our match by the smallest margin, and came 3rd. We were quite envious of the lovely glass trophies and huge silver plates that the teams in first and second got, in boxes lined with velvet, but we did get some lovely gold coasters which are a nice memento of the day!
bit of an epic post there! ive just polished off a lovely three course meal but there might be some bucks fizz (on offer for £2 in tesco this evening) left...
At the big uni tournaments they split each divison (beginner, novice, intermediate, etc) into sub divisions, so all the first teams play each other, all the second teams play each other, etc. This was a much smaller tournament so all the novice teams (11) were in one division.
Our first match was against Nottinghams fourth team. The pressure was on as neither of our beginner teams had lost a match all morning and we didn't want to ruin the track record! We had a great game and won 5-0 :cool3: I started to feel a bit sorry for them by the end as the ball only crossed into their half of the arena a couple of times.
Some pics:
warming up
the team
in the line up
Our second match was against nottinghams first team - so a bit of a step up! This was a really fast match, probably the hardest one of the weekend. We drew 2-2 (thanks to two fouls from them right in front of the goal we were going for, meaning we were awarded automatic goals) and so we had to have a penalty shout out. It was such a fun game that we were chatting to the other team before the penalties started and we all agreed that none of us really cared who won on penalties, as the game had been so even. Which was all very nice, but unfortunately we needed a winner :biggrin3:
Being by far the weakest hitter on the team, I went last, in case we drew after the first 3 penalties and had to go to sudden death. Nottingham went first, and so I was the last to go. After the first 5 had had their shot, the score was 1-1, so if I scored then we'd win. I'm not very good at penalties (I'm much better when I don't have too much time to think!) so I tried to relax, take my time, and hit the ball perfectly on target to the goal... only for it to stop before it got there
So it went to sudden death, and my teammate scored so we won The pro photographer missed our match, and it was a bit dark and fast for my friends camera, but theres a couple of not very good ones:
im on the nearest horse
this isnt me, but gives a good indication of how fast it was!
As winners of our section, it meant that us and two birmingham teams (who had each won their respective sections) were fighting it out for the top 3 positions.
We played their second team first, this was another really good game. I scored my first goal of the weekend
and we won 1-0.The two birmingham teams played each other, this was probably the best match of the weekend, they really fought for it! We were egging on the second team (who we'd just beaten) as if they won then all we needed to do was draw against their first team to win overall. The second team did win (much to the surprise of the birmingham supporters), but the game left us under no illusions that a win would be easy!
The last match was really well fought, and felt very evenly matched. Unfortunately luck wasn't on our side, and whilst all our attempts at goal didn't quite make it, Birmingham's did. I think the final score was 4-0 (both teams had lost count by the end) but it felt like a much more even match than the result suggested - not to take anything away from Bham, as they definitely deserved the win. There are some pro pics here http://peterjamesphotography.com/po...o-2013-sun-23-11-13/sun-warwick-v-bham-again/ I'm on the dark bay with the big white star, I think I'm going to buy 2867 or the one after it, as I don't have any good ride-off photos.
As each of the three teams in the finals had won a match, the final results were decided on goal difference. We won our match by the smallest margin, and came 3rd. We were quite envious of the lovely glass trophies and huge silver plates that the teams in first and second got, in boxes lined with velvet, but we did get some lovely gold coasters which are a nice memento of the day!
bit of an epic post there! ive just polished off a lovely three course meal but there might be some bucks fizz (on offer for £2 in tesco this evening) left...
Taking up polo is up there with the best things Ive ever done, its SO much fun!