Adelaide's First Team Tournament!

Saturday 31st May 2003 and the four Adelaide Ultimate teams gathered to do battle on the hallowed turf of Flinders University: - From Flinders Uni, Joel Piller lead his team of chargers, and according to him they were the favourites; - Adelaide Uni led by Ryan Dutch (aka Dutch) with his fake afro and West End flag; - DSTO (Defence Science and Technology) Discheads lead by Kristan Pash, these guys get to play frisbee in there lunch hour twice a week. [I'm planning to go to uni so I can get a job there!!!!]; and, - The other team lead by Mike Palmer "The Cream of the Dreggs" made up of the rest of the ultimate players not fitting in any of the above teams (thanks to the NSW nationals teams for the Dreggs concept inspiration - hope you don't mind the plagarism.) These guys were more like the Dreggs of the Dreggs as some key players could not come on the day.

Weather was good - overcast but no rain and a forecast temperature of 22 degrees. There was a steady southerly breeze to keep all the throws honest.

Play that Pumping Music, Mike-Boy

The PA was set up and the music pumping, Tets Kumara from flinders did not approve of the "funk" selection but there were five cds on random and his "doof doof" music got a chance as well. No comments were received from the nearby residents when "Suck my Kiss" was played at 8:30am either. (A mention and thanks must go to the Flinders Uni Sports Association and Matthew Miles for letting us use the fields!)

Round One Rumbunctioness and Round Two Action

First games started at 10am, 60 min games to 13 with half at 7. Dreggs v DSTO Discheads, and Flinders Uni v Adelaide Uni. Flinders defeated Adelaide 13 to 7, and the DSTO Discheads defeated Dreggs by two points after a great comeback 13 to 11 and some great defence to stop a Dreggs set play from a time out near the endzone just before time cap.

Second round saw Adelaide Uni up against the Dreggs and Flinders facing the DSTO Discheads. Dreggs def Adelaide uni 12 to 9. The former had some extra excitement when Duncan gave Hoi a lecture on "vertical space" after Hoi backed into a pack (Duncan still has a bruise on his legs from some weeks ago when a similar incident happened. In his words "he hit me from behind with something, I don't know if it was his knee or his dick," but the Dreggs managed a win 12-9.

Meanwhile, the DSTO Discheads and Flinders fought it out right up until time cap. At the hooter, Flinders were up by one point and called a time out 5m out of the endzone near the sideline. Roger threw to Mike L in the side of the zone past the laying out Big Kev. Flinders 13 -11.

Lunch!? Lemmie At It!

Lunch followed with Mike Palmer's wonderful parents Neil and Lyn Palmer cooking a fabulous BBQ! Cheers to them! As most who ran hard after lunch we discovered that BBQs are better after you have finished running, not before or during.

Blockbusting Round Three

After lunch Discheads accounted for Adelaide Uni by one point 11-10. The other round three game saw Flinders and Dreggs complete quite a blockbuster game - very even and going for point for point for most of the game. Scores were even at timecap. The game was on the line, down to the last point, when a huge haymaker or hospital throw went up in the air for around 10 secs or so, floating towards the sideline as several players ran for the disc. Joel and Mike tried to catch it at the same time, and the Big J ended up with the disc, but unfortunately, he was called out over the sideline. In the turnover, Mike Palmer quickly threw to Duncan who completed the pass to Adam in the endzone for what may have been the winning point.

The "Footprint of God"

However, the drama continued in good ultimate fashion, with the line call disputed despite the clear footprint on and over the line. Joel argued his his foot "slid" over the line. Some spectators saw is as like Maradonnas and his "hand of god" goal in the box at the soccer world cup years ago, but this was the "footprint of god."

The players decided to replay the point and Flinders scored this time. It was agreed in good spirit (and on closer inspection of the "footprint of god") the game was called a draw.

The play-off for 3rd and 4th was between Dreggs and Adelaide Uni, with the Dreggs winning 13 - 7 and Mike Palmer's mum back again helping by cooking pancakes during the final! This set the scene for a much-anticipated final clash between Flinders Uni and the DSTO Discheads.

The Final Bout

Discheads stormed off early to get the first 3 pts, and went on to take the half 9 - 6 in rampaging style. However, Flinders Uni came on and fought back with five straight points to make it 11-9 as the sun set and the lights took over.

There was some speculation on the sideline that DSTO had not played as much under lights as Flinders and this arguably contributed to the rapid turnaround. At some point the valiant Flinders player Mike L rolled his ankle and was off for a while. He came back to fight on but not 100% fit.

DSTO fought back to make the score 13 all as timecap was called. For the players, the final point seemed to go forever, with brilliant D on both sides stretching the game. Mark from DSTO was excellent with quite a few last ditch endzone D's on the final point to keep the game alive.

In the final play, DSTO's Big Kev threw a 40m hammer to just outside the endzone but Flinders stood firm on D and got the turnover. As they worked the disc up the field DSTO's Captain Kristan Pash got an exquisite layout D on the sideline to get the turnover, sprang up and flew to the endzone to receive a glorious disc to take the game - 14-13!

A win for the Discheads (and the two cartons of West End!) was well earned as everyone on the field had played fantastic defence and with the high spirit you'd come to expect.

Flinders Uni took the cake (the spirit prize!)

Round-Up

There were many beginners playing and it was a highly successful day for Adelaide Ultimate. The organisers are aiming to start a league with at least these teams early August, and it was great to increase the enthusiasm for Ultimate in SA. Look out for a heap of these players at Mixed Nats!

Finally, at the after-party at the Griffins head, three DSTO guys beat three challengers in a three pint challenge. For those not familiar, the three pint challenge involves filling two frisbees with beer and the two teams scull the beer with straws. (trust Kev a frisbee does hold three pints) Not the most pleasant way to enjoy your beer but very effective at getting you drunk!

So fun for all was had!!!!!