Tuesday 17 July 2007
The second tour of the 2007 season was based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. It saw 40 teams in the open division battle it out to claim the tour 2 title.
Previous visits to Mansfield have proved fruitful for the Chevron brand. In 2004 we won Tour 3 at this very venue and the following seasons it saw us achieve some of our best finishing positions. We went into this with high hopes and fresh legs. This event saw the debuts for ex-junior Owain and for Penny and Josh, both from our junior ranks and ably supported by the rest of our GB Junior contingent on the sideline.
Game 1: Discuits
Still reeling after losing to this team at the Eastbourne Tour last year
(renamed "Hell on grass" for all those which played) we had something to
prove. We started the game slowly with a few personal errors which saw us
trade the game initially. After a time out and a rally cry from the
captains the D team started to shine and slowly but surely took the game
away from them. Final score was 15-8.
The Chevron Squad in Mansfield for Tour 2
Game 2: Brighton 1
Effectively our quarter final; if we win this we guarantee a semi vs. the top of the other pool. Lose it and we had
to beat Clapham in the final game. We traded at the start but after a tactical decision from the captains to play lockdown D in the middle of the game we started to take it away from Brighton. The highlight surely being a single D line which scored us 3 points out of 3 in very few passes, turning near their zone line each time. We then followed
this up with another D score from a single pass. However all was not well.
As a team it left us in the position of 13-5 game to 15. We sat back and
thought we had already won and we allowed the score to end up 15-12. Not
the way we wanted to finish after such an impressive mid-game display.
Game 3: Clapham 1
This game immediately followed the Brighton game with only just enough time
to get over to the pitch. The start of the game seemed to pass us by and
Clapham capitalised. This early lead was never to be recovered. We had
highlights in the game including SiD catching a wayward pass from CB whilst
surrounded by 8 other players and then calmly dumping the pass whilst
everyone wondered where the disc had gone. Other highlights saw Barnyard
making friends with Clapham's American contingent after taking possibly his
highest ever grab - one Clo would of been proud of! Final score was 15-8.
The hard work on Saturday saw us facing Fusion in the Semi final on Sunday. Having been on the receiving end of a severe thrashing and several sudden death losses at the hands of Fusion in 2006, revenge was on the minds of many of the Chevron players. A 12.30 start was also very welcome!
Semi Final: Fusion
This game had the makings to be a classic before it even started. Fusion
who finally found their winning way last year faced a resurgent Chevron
feeling fresh and baying for blood. The first few points were cautiously
traded out before we made the initial break through and got the first D,
relieving the pressure a little. We then followed this up with a second D
to end up taking half in the lead. Starting on O we had the chance to open
up a 3 point lead although Fusion came out determined and quickly nicked a D
back. Some great play by the offence, who took their long shots with great
skill, and some amazing catches by the deeps held the Fusion D line off.
Meanwhile sweat and blood was being split by our D line trying to build up our lead again. The game ended up 15's following another fusion D although we were trading up. Horror of all horrors fusion then went 16-15 up. All the pressure was on the O line to give the D monkeys on shot of glory to win. This they did and left the game in sudden death, Chevron with the pull. A quick couple of passes from Fusion saw them huck it for the score. With 2 fusion and one Chevron chasing it down it looked a lost cause until Beavan pulled out an almighty D over everyone's heads to smash it out the back of the endzone. We had the turn and the chance to win. The D boys then calmly worked it all the way up. Well, Stu and Grayson did the majority. Rob offered the swing but under the pressure Dave G felt a 15 yard pass was a bit risky so left Stu to run the same cut 10 times working us to the endzone. Off the final cut Stu threw one into the mixer with nearly all 14 players putting a bid on it till James clawed it down and sealed the win. Celebrations were loud and proud. We had made the final.
Final: Fire of London 1
We went into this feeling great; we had the advantage of the win over them
from Tour 1 and we were feeling like the stronger team. However not
everything goes to plan all the time. Fire came out hard and fast and
quickly built up a lead. They took half with us trailing by 2 points, at
our worst we were four behind Fire so we were glad to go in 2 behind.
At half as a team we knew we had more to give and that we could get on a roll. We came out at half with a lot to do. The offence line
tightened up their play and some great grabs and safe play saw us keep pace
with the Fire boys and stop them from getting the blocks. So it was now
down to the D line to win us the match and a switch to force middle called by Beavan put the Fire offence under pressure in difficult conditions. The final few points of the match
saw too many amazing plays to name everyone involved but needless to say we
got those block and even took the lead 14-13. The Fire O line then scored a
quick point meaning we had to score our offence point to win as the cap
resulted in the game being to 15. In true Chevron style this season we went
out firing and a long shot from Grayson to a deep saw us win the match - the
most amazing thing was that this deep was in fact CB who arguably should
have been no more than 10 metres from the disc waiting to huck it, not
running like a mad man down the field 10 yards free of his marker! However
no one cares; before he had caught it we were all off down the sideline
celebrating.
So final position at Tour 2 - Winners - and proudly so!
Matt Mcloughlin