Triple Threat

This blog has been void of any updates since our last game against the Buggers 2 weeks ago. Cobras got up in this game on a universe point to extend their club-record winning streak to 3.

It has been 2 weeks since the game so details aren't freely coming to mind, but the Cobras got up 3-1 early on before the Bugs had their 7th player turn up. The game then seesawed with the Cobras playing sloppy on offence, despite getting numerous blocks on defence.

The score was 8-10 at one stage and the Cobras needed a late 3 point run to win the game 11-10.

Tonight sees the Cobras up against a resurgent Passion team hungry for revenge after the Cobras started Passion's 4 game losing streak earlier this season.

If the Cobras win they are into the semi finals, if they lose then they must rely on Slamtown to beat Lovers and the net result of the Slamtown victory margin plus the Passion winning margin to be 12 or less. A Lovers-Passion double will see the season over for the Cobras. All seems a little too complicated, so just winning tonight will be the main objective and the easiest way for the Cobras to go through.

Should the Cobras go into the semi finals, they will almost certainly face up against minor premiers Dojo, who will be out to exact revenge on the Cobras team who handed them their largest loss of the season.

Apologies & Finding Form

First and foremost let me apologise for the coverage (or lack thereof) of last weeks loss to the tall bamboo of Dojo Mojo. Game highlights can be seen here. Although to call them highlights is very Grechian. I seem to recall a Callahan by a certain loudmouth cobra that somehow did not make it onto the post. The tapes have been hidden way down in the archives of the Dojo Tea Room, never to be seen again.

All in all it was a somewhat disappointing game for the Cobra's. Many passes were not completed and we just did not have the height to contend with many long shots going to Pistol Pete Allen and Fatty. Dojo Mojo defeated Cobras 14-7.

Which brings us the struggle that unfolded tonight against the Moreton Bay Buggers (MBB). The Cobras came out this week with something to prove, penned by many to be good only on paper, the Cobra's are on their way to proving these knockers wrong.

The game started soon after Abra, Trachter and Mike Nolan all turned up late. The first point the Cobra's coaxed the Buggers into a false sense of security with a drop close to the line for an easy score. Buggers up 1-0.

The game had a couple of breaks from each side, until Buggers scored to make the score 7-all. Buggers time-out was called as they plotted to take half. The Cobra's went into this point with a cool head and chilly O. The Buggers came out with their usual transition zone. Cobra's handled this very well all night. After the zone had dissipated we quickly got into our efficient vert stack and marched it down field for the score to take half 8-7.

During half Abra spoke about not getting caught up in the emotion of taking half and losing focus. Our Puppy-Fence was forcing many turns from the Buggers offence all night, forcing them to throw a lot of hammers. And also switching it up intermittently to man just to throw them off. Our man-d was a lot better tonight also. Special mention to soon to be husband, Mr Wetnose for disrupting many of the deep shots, that Mike usually scoops up with ease.

Cobras got a break on the Buggers' leaving the scores at 10-8. The Buggers then scored, leaving the scores at 10-9. Cobras started out on O, we worked it up to about half, when there was a drop. We quickly scrambled to man. The Buggers worked it up close to their attacking end zone. They waited until there was a clear shot down the middle of the stack and took the shot. Unbeknownst to many on the field, time cap had gone off during the point. Finishing the game at 10-all (may have been 11?). Although it is disappointing to see a game end in a draw, it reflected the game very well, two teams, both with different strengths battling it out. It was a very enjoyable game.

The Cobra's players have gelled well over the last couple of weeks, there is still a bit of straightening out to do, but the mid-season come-back is on the cards. We have a bye next week, you may see some dedicated players down there training. Wetnose will be skipping it due to his wedding being that weekend (yet he has been using for the last 2 weeks). And Myself Isaac and Abraham will be down at the Aussie Thunder (yes, that's right) training camp. Which leaves only top of the table, Passion for the remaining round, before we begin our revenge rampage.

Back down to earth

After a first up big win against Lovers, the Cobras were left to slither back into their holes following an ego-checking loss to the table-topping Buggers, 15-10.

The game was probably a couple of points closer than that scoreline suggests but the Bugs were deserving winners, capitalising on the mistakes made by Cobras and using their key players effectively.

The Bugs took half 8-5, but the Cobras took the next 2 points to bring it back to 8-7. The momentum of the game see-sawed throughout the entire match, with the Bugs taking the ascendancy late in the game.

Intensity was great throughout the game, although players from both teams chucked some small wobblies a couple of times. Neither team was prepared to give an inch, a trait which is a mark of the Bugs team, and while this resulted in some heated discussions, all players were able to look each other in the eye at the end of the game, shake hands, and congratulate each other sincerely (or at least that's how it seemed).

Special mention to Reece who did a great job of minimising the impact of the dangerous J-Ray, and also all the other boys who marked up on the Bugs A-list stars to force a close match and many endzone turnovers.

Next game is against Passion who pushed the Bugs all the way a couple of weeks ago, only to go down 14-12. Should be a cracker!


PS. Is anyone reading this thing? Let us know what you think and what you would like to see more/less of. Thanks

Cobras slither in

The Cobras made their first showing last night with an appearance at the training night for Season 2 of the BPL, along with the 3 of the other 4 teams (did anyone really expect Dojo to be there?).

The night was pretty low key. Started with a jersey presentation and, with everyone kitted out in their sweet new Zone shirts and shorts, a quick warm up and dump-swing-score drill ensued before some mini was played. The main aim of the night was to get people used to playing with people they had never played with. The progress made through the night was quite dramatic, and it was good that we didn't wait until the first round to have this opportunity.

After a bit of intra-team scrimmaging, we then played off against the only BPL team with selections, the Moreton Bay Buggers, on the new porta-fields. Firstly can we say that these lined porta-fields were great. It was so much easier than having stoppages in play to check whether someone was in/out and made it feel a lot more professional. The actual game itself was, as Mike put it, a risky game. Both teams were quite keen to put it long and both team tried a mix up of both zone and man, and tried new combinations on both O and D. Score wasn't kept, but both captains agreed that the game was tight and couldn't pick a team that really ran away with it.

The real deal starts next week with the first game of the season (barring a bye round) so tune in to find out how the Cobras go in losing their real game virginity.