Game Faces

Thursday night saw the Cobras matched up against the new kids on the block, Heroes. Like many over at BUB, I thought this would be something like a cake walk. I was rudely awakened by the game that unfolded and tumbled before my eyes.

I will admit that I thought this was going to be an easy game, I came into the game expecting a little challenge from Jangles and Silent (or is it Agressive these days?) George. But mostly expecting to just walk in and take an easy 15 points and get home early. To say that the Cobra's underestimated Heroes is an understatement. We came into the game with nearly no respect. That is what lost us the game, that mindset.

The Heroes came out with a very effective poachy man defence. This caused many easy turns and blocks for them. They were really effective in utilising Jangles' speed and newly found flick huck. Jangles' was getting way too many hucks out, so the Cobras changed to a straight up force. This did nothing to stop the relentless hucks, nor did it get any of the down field guarders a block. With many of the hucks sticking and the Cobra's offence looking very shaky, the Heroes jumped out to a 2 point lead and took half 8-6.

During the break Cobra's leader, Wetnose, emphasized the fault in our glory game play. We were throwing shots for goals that were never on, all for the glory. He then went on to explain the consequences of such actions as "whoever throws the next shit huck, I am going to kick you in the balls". Not too many points later, Wetnose made a great swing cut, he sized up his options with the disc and saw a black uniform going long. His brain exploded and he threw a flick that floated gracefully into an empty endzone due to miscommunication, much to the annoyance and self-loathing of Mr Wetnose.

With that I reeled back in many of my choices and instead did not complete my short throws up the line and on dump passes. The tender Trachter turned up just to watch, but somehow ended up with his boots on and warming up to be injected into the game in hopes of steadying the Cobra's ship. The help never came.

The Cobra's continued to push the long shots, look off the dump and were still not believing what was happening, when sideline called time cap. Cobras had taken a few points back after half, but were still very shaky. The Heroes has just scored a goal to even it out to 11 all, on universe point.

The Cobra's were in prime position to play patient offence and walk the disc up the field for the win. But we could not shake the game that we had played all night and threw it away. With that Jangles swiftly hucked it down field and as per usual, a Heroes receiver was there to collect it. My memory of this goal has been swallowed by the misery that quickly enveloped me.

To say the least Heroes scored it, ending the game 12-11. Leaving the Cobras in disbelief. Heroes had a blinder that night, in the wise words of song smith Bob Dylan, "They had god on their side". Let it be said that the Heroes definately had their game faces on from the start, Cobra's were still looking for them when they went to bed that night.

We are already planning the downfall of the Heroes, if we are to face them next round (?), or in the finals.

Well I Love A Rainy Night

Last Thursday night saw the experienced UQ Lovers step into the ring with the Cobras. The Lovers rumbled in the jungle with the Cobras, but this time the speed and grace of aL and Buzz were not enough to overcome the brute force and shouting that is the Cobra's game.

The game started out with a few quick goals from the Cobra's, this week we believed in our force and were not letting up the easy open throws. The Lovers then hit back with a couple of their own. Special mention to Wetnose, who got a block on Buzz. On the line Wetnose could be heard calling himself on Buzz and I quote, "I have got him covered, I already have a block on him tonight". Later in a sideline conversation Buzz replied "I advertised the throw pretty well, even the other UQ team (the fisting type) knew where I was going to throw it". I can't remember too much clearly, but I believe Cobras took the half 8-6 maybe 8-7.

Which brings us to the second half of the game, the heavens opened up and gave us that nice greasy surface to play on and not to mention the greasy disc. It began with a quick Cobras score, followed two point run to the Lovers. It was in this run that I became gob-smacked.

I was right on aL pretty much straight up, he faked a forehand huck, I followed. He then stepped back to his backhand and I went with him, he wound up and released nearly in the splits (YES!! aL has secretly been partaking in some pre-season yoga in the gardens of the Dojo with the venerable Sensei). While all of this was happening Neil from the Lovers had made a great deep cut and burnt a fellow cobra to a crisp. The throw was way out wide, Neil looked like he was not going to make it, when all of a sudden he speeds up. The disc is coming at him outside in, losing altitude quickly and aggressively banking. I never for a second thought he had it, when Neil layed-out. It was no more than 10cm (4 inches for those following overseas) off the ground when his hand got to it. I could not believe it, he had caught what seemed to never even be possible. Neil has some major street-cred from the Cobras now.

The Cobra's then muscled up and went on a run to get it to about 12-11, Time cap had gone on the previous point, which meant a game to 13. The ever reliable Trachter picked up the disc to start the point. For those who don't already know it, they say Trachter moves like a bobcat and that he doesn't have a backhand. We just had to score the next point to win the game. Trachter of course takes his position on the left side of the field for his big flick pull. The grass was wet and so it seemed was the disc. Trachter's pull slipped in his fingers and it ended up at about halfway after a generous roll out of bounds. The Cobra's were put on D. Buzz got the disc as usual and looked to put it down the line on his flick side as well. The disc slipped and on what seems to happen every blue moon, Buzz did not complete the pass ( I know everyone gasped at that part).

The Cobras then marched the disc up to the endzone for a composed goal. The final score was 13-11. Cobras took their first scalp of the season and much like Stiglitz, are hungry for more blood this BPL season. Never fear devoted reader's and bored 9-5 workers. I will cover every single game I play. No need to worry about taking back previous comments (Hi Sensei). I won't let my blog's quality or quantity falter (Hi Sensei).

This week we line up against the fresh Heroes. Keep an eye out.