Big Match does not disappoint - AKITA 26 - 20 Institute of Education

For the final match of the first round, AKITA was facing HKIE, the oly other undefeated team of their group. This match would determine who would get into the second round with full mark and was getting the "prime time" with an 8:30PM start. The starting line up from left to right was Yoann, David, Ulf, Hans, PA with Alex on the line and Markus is the goal. The good intentions of AKITA in defense were clear from the start with the commitment of the team resulting in 2 yellow cards in the first 3 minutes. PA was given some space on the right wing with the HKIE defense playing high trying to cut the transmission with Hans. The first goal of the match was for Yoann who purposely recovered a PA shot on the outside post to score at the opposite wing. The higher HKIE was defending on Hans the better it proved for him as he scored the following three. Alex was proving his experience by getting in the gap left by Hans when he was man-marked, keeping the ball flowing and stretching the defense. Both team were keeping it pretty close with a score of 4-4 after 10 minutes, but the quality of play was very visible and AKITA was creating options obtaining a penalty to make it 5-4 and gaining some ball in defense to make it 7-4 after a Norbert score on the half left where he was alternating with David. The Institute of Education was resisting very well and responded with 2 quick goals but things were clearly getting tough as they conceded another penalty scored by Hans. A shoot directly in Markus' head from the wing was not sanctioned to the bewilderment of the AKITA team but this was only a small delay as in the 16th and then again 2 minutes later HKIE suffered 2 minutes exclusions. With 4 minutes of overplay, the Gwailos got heir opponents tired and started to steer away. PA started to get his shooting right and the good work of the whole team to create space offered him 3 wing goals with Ulf also getting on the score sheet. In the last minute, Hans and Yoann added a goal each, opening the gap significantly for the first time (14 - 8). At half time the AKITA team was feeling confident and only had minor adjustments to do. A strong start of the second half allowed the AKITA to steer regularly. If possible, Hans was building even more confidence adding 4 goals to his tally in 12 minutes and providing PA with 2 more. As the ball was circulating well, the HKIE defense was getting disorganized allowing Alex to score or obtain fouls. As Markus R. was changing with a very bruised Yoann, a committed shot from the left wing allowed for a 10 goal lead (23 -13, 13th minute) and he scored again to restore the 10 goal advantage a minute later. After that, the team was more focused on managing the score and maintaining some rotation in the team with Alex and PA already on the bench to get some rest. This was also a good chance for Wan and Markus to show their talents and make some fine saves as the fast breaks were getting a little bit more frequent. Lars was using his size to put pressure on the defense as a line. Even the 2 minutes expulsion of a flabbergasted Yoann for putting the ball on the floor when a foul was whistled (we are not sure how he can have been more compliant..) did not unsettle the team and even if the score was not flowing much anymore, the AKITA team remained in control. As PA replaced Hans he added one penalty. Guillaume who entered before on the right wing for the final part of the match was given a good ball after some Ulf work and made it 1 goal for 1 shoot bringing the AKITA advantage to 8 goals. HKIE got the last 2 to make it 26 – 20. This concludes the first phase of the league with a quality match where all the players enjoyed some good handball and where AKITA preserved a 100% record. Scorers: Hans: 8, PA: 7, Yoann 2, Norbert 2, Ulf 2, Markus R. 2, David 1, Alex 1, Guille 1.