By Murray Alexander Last weekend a team of battle-hardened veterans and fresh-faced rising stars descended upon Aberdeen Sports Village, assuming the role of plucky underdogs with the sole intention of ruffling a few feathers and stealing a little attention now and then from their more celebrated associates. Disclaimer: Match scores may not be correct (or even specifically mentioned) but everything here happened exactly as this account says. The fight began with a bleary-eyed match against Blaze in which I remember very little of what happened. I'm not sure it even did. It's possible that we were brainwashed and just told that we were beaten, no witnesses exist of this match. Either way, the weekend began with a "loss". Next to be put to the sword were the old enemy Ro Sham Bo. Despite a valiant effort, Ro Sham broke our sword. However, a moral (much preferable to an actual) victory was claimed as FF2 fought hard and disrupted the play of RSB, forcing several turnovers and managing to get the disc moving better than in the "match" against Blaze and were unlucky not to register some points in an admirable performance against the eventual champions. The following match contained the first points of the weekend for FF2 in a very tight match with Mojo 2. FF2 took a lead of a couple of points as we began to get into gear and get things moving in a strong start. Mojo 2 fought back to tie the score and in the end the game was won 5-4 after Martha cut expertly in the endzone into an incoming blade and caught the disc, with her tiptoes just inside the endzone. First win of the weekend ground out. Sadly it was to prove to be the only victory of the day as losses to Flatball, Shooting Stars 2 and another tight game, this time against Mojo 3, followed as superior ability at being tall was exploited by the opposition and try as we might we just couldn't grow a couple inches in between games. Sunday started early for some with a tough match against Shooting Stars. In Farflung tradition we started slowly against a motivated Stars team and were beaten by a few but there was a clear indication of a better day ahead as the disc zipped from flunger to flinger despite by this point many members being held together only by sticky tape and bits of string. The upwards curve began against RSB3 when the offence really clicked for the first time as the handlers effortlessly moved the disc around the pitch and everyone stretched their legs to use the entire length of the pitch in a comfortable win that set up FF2 for a good run of wins. FF2 were pitted against Blaze in a grudge match akin to Frazier v Ali post-racial antagonism. Two teams well-fired up took to the pitch and a very hard game was fought where FF2 produced their most perfect performance of the weekend. Incredibly patient offence combined with a hard-working defence created the basis for a brilliant win. This match also witnessed an incredible ubergrab by Marou as she soared through the air stretching her arm out like Michael Jordan in Space Jam to prevent a turnover. Trading points throughout the match as the team ran and ran and ran until the whistle with the score tied at 6-6. With FF2 starting on O, Blaze managed to get the turnover but the team never stopped working and a pile of players forced a turnover on the edge of FF2's enzone and then quickly moved the disc up the pitch to get the winning score with Martin working himself some space and calmly waiting the half hour the disc was in the air and catching to win the game (giving further credence to the idea that the Blaze "loss" never happened...). A dominant performance in the Plate semi against Flatball 2 led to a convincing win as FF2 kept up the level of the previous performance, giving FB2 nothing to work with and clinically putting away opportunities off the back of repeated turnovers. Patient offence was once again the weapon and FF2 proceeded to the Plate Final and playoff for the last spot at Division 2 Nationals against local rivals Dark Horses. Sadly, it proved to be a match too far at the end of what was a very long weekend as FF2 fell prey to a well-worked long game by Horses though they never stopped working throughout the match. A bum note to end on but it failed to take the shine off an amazing second day in which everybody gave everything they had to contribute to one of my favourite days of Ultimate that I've been involved in. Webb-style 2nd Team highlights: Anja - Calmness personified. Never rushed and used her impressive throwing ability to get things going on O and her experience proved invaluable throughout the weekend |
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