AKITA was already ensured of promotion before this last match but it did no change anything to the motivation of the team. With a 12-strong squad but without their best scorer Hans who took an early vacation, AKITA was ready to run despite the heat of a 10AM kick-off time.
The first 2 minutes were unusually eventful for an AKITA match. Yoann scored the first and the second in the first minute, Shun Lee came back to 2-1 before Ulf made it 3-1. The following 4 minutes were more typical of the best defense of the league, as the AKITA team slowed down and no goal were scored on either side before AKITA conceded a penalty. The beginning of the match had a French flavour with Yoann joined by PA and Guillaume occupying the right flank. As the team was playing well in movement PA was given some space and could go through the defense twice in a row (5-2). Yoann answered Shun Lee third goal with a penalty. To complete the French touch, the team played perfectly in the intervals so Guillaume could receive the ball from his brother and conclude with a perfect wing shot under the applaudes of the bench (7-3).
Defense was now fully warmed up and it was time for some German no nonsense handball with Rolf and Norbert in particular scaring the Shun Lee players on the left side. Markus was on for Yoann, Dominik for Guillaume and Michael for PA. Markus scored before David opened his count as his good runs allowed him to get the ball in good position. A comfortable catch from Wan allowed for a lighting fast break for Dominik before Shun Lee clawed one back (10 - 4 on 13th minute). The game was accelerating again with Michael scoring on a second wave, Alex getting a marvel of a pass by Ulf on another, David and Dominik also adding their second in the run. Each of those goals were answered back by a well motivated Shun Lee losing no time to rush forward (14 - 8 on 20th minute). Markus then stepped up to add 2 in a row but once again Shun Lee answered with 2 of their own (including a penalty). As the end of the hald was looming with 2 minutes to play, it all turned to David who scored 3 to make AKITA clear. The half time socre of 19 - 10 very much looked like an AKITA full time score! It was the best offensive half of the year but not the most defense oriented one.
For the second half, Norbert finally decided to take a little for himself rather than just giving to his team mates and scored on the opening. Yoann was also back on and added the following. As Shun Lee was still scoring, Alex called for the ball, scoring two and gratifying the public of his special move, a 270 degrees turn in the line position despite having no opponent around. With Norbert adding his second in between the score was 24 - 15 after 10 minutes in the second half. It was the right time to use some good defense to sail further away. As Shun Lee was also getting tired, AKITA played 5 minutes of defense followed by fast break, the perfect setup for David who scored the 4 AKITA goal in this period. Michael added one to make it 29 - 16 before Shun lee scored again.
For his last match with AKITA before returning to Europe, David kept on receiving good balls and scored to with a PA goal in between to make the score 32 - 18. This goal was putting AKITA on par with Yuen Long as best attack of the league, something which the statistican may have known but which had not been discussed by the coaches. PA added the last one of the season to make it sole best attack and a last minute penalty for Shun Lee made the score 33 - 20.
David 11, Yoann 4, PA 4, Alex 3, Markus 3, Michael 2, Norbert 2, Dominik 2, Guille 1, Ulf 1
Sunday, June 14, 2009
AKITA gets promotion with a 24 - 9 win againts Long Hei (龍禧) (12 - 6)
With a Sunday 12:25 Kick off, AKITA had the chance to secure its promotion but the team didn't know yet that ARISE dropped points. This would not have changed anything in the coach orders. Plan was to get a solid match defense and play straight in the gaps in attack.
The match proved very out of the ordinary, to start with, AKITA won the toss for the first time in 12 attempts! During the match, despite few cautions, AKITA did not suffer any temporary exclusion.
After defending successfully the first action, David got the first goal in. After that it was all on the right side for the following 10 minutes. Hans scored first before Rolf had 2 consecutive goals from tight angles. Hans strength and power was making marvels and even when the goal was touching the ball it was still getting in, allowing him to get 4 goals in a row for a 8-5 lead. Defense was having a slow start and a bit of bad luck. On a shoot from the half left, the defense jumped and slightly modified the course of the ball which resulted in an awkward trajectory for Markus. As he was surprised, the ball arrived on his little finger before getting in. Markus was forced to leave his place to Wan as the finger needed straightening... After this incident digested, the French connection of Yoann and PA on the left side woke up the Half left scoring 2 after being launched by the winger who himself scored the last of the half. One more Hans goal in between meant a score of 12 - 6 at the break.
This was an interesting buffer, but for once AKITA proved themselves much better in the second half than in the first. In particular, the defense significantly stepped up and with the exception of a fast break to start the second half, it proved a nightmare for the happy dragons. In attack, As Hans was being rested, Norbert found his rhythm and was creating a lot of movements and goals scoring 4 with a Yoann goal in between for a 17 - 8 score with a quarter of the game to be played. The team was having a nice and effective turnover with Markus (2) and David (3) bringing some more goals. In defense, everyone was maintaining full commitment and in particular Lars defending on the half right was using efficiently his size and strength and in one instance stopping with one arm only a a Long Hei player at full speed. They only got their third goal of the half with 2 minutes to go. Yoann made sure that AKITA would score last when he answered for a 24 - 9 win.
The season is reaching his end and AKITA will be very keen on getting the best potential record. The last match would be against 4th ranked Shun Lee.
Hans 6, David 4, Norbert 4, PA 3, Yoann 3, Rolf 2, Markus 2
The match proved very out of the ordinary, to start with, AKITA won the toss for the first time in 12 attempts! During the match, despite few cautions, AKITA did not suffer any temporary exclusion.
After defending successfully the first action, David got the first goal in. After that it was all on the right side for the following 10 minutes. Hans scored first before Rolf had 2 consecutive goals from tight angles. Hans strength and power was making marvels and even when the goal was touching the ball it was still getting in, allowing him to get 4 goals in a row for a 8-5 lead. Defense was having a slow start and a bit of bad luck. On a shoot from the half left, the defense jumped and slightly modified the course of the ball which resulted in an awkward trajectory for Markus. As he was surprised, the ball arrived on his little finger before getting in. Markus was forced to leave his place to Wan as the finger needed straightening... After this incident digested, the French connection of Yoann and PA on the left side woke up the Half left scoring 2 after being launched by the winger who himself scored the last of the half. One more Hans goal in between meant a score of 12 - 6 at the break.
This was an interesting buffer, but for once AKITA proved themselves much better in the second half than in the first. In particular, the defense significantly stepped up and with the exception of a fast break to start the second half, it proved a nightmare for the happy dragons. In attack, As Hans was being rested, Norbert found his rhythm and was creating a lot of movements and goals scoring 4 with a Yoann goal in between for a 17 - 8 score with a quarter of the game to be played. The team was having a nice and effective turnover with Markus (2) and David (3) bringing some more goals. In defense, everyone was maintaining full commitment and in particular Lars defending on the half right was using efficiently his size and strength and in one instance stopping with one arm only a a Long Hei player at full speed. They only got their third goal of the half with 2 minutes to go. Yoann made sure that AKITA would score last when he answered for a 24 - 9 win.
The season is reaching his end and AKITA will be very keen on getting the best potential record. The last match would be against 4th ranked Shun Lee.
Hans 6, David 4, Norbert 4, PA 3, Yoann 3, Rolf 2, Markus 2
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Yuen Long Champion, AKITA Promoted !!
Last Saturday, Yuen Long and ARISE were playing their last matches. With a 22 - 20 victory against Nam Wan, Yuen Long clinched the title with 21 points. At the same time, ARISE only drew 19 - 19 against Chun Yuen and ends on 17 points.
On Sunday, AKITA defeated defeated the Happy Dragons 24 - 9 to count 18 points with one match to play and is now sure of promotion! On Sunday they will play their last match to try to close the season on the same number of points as Yuen Long.
On Sunday, AKITA defeated defeated the Happy Dragons 24 - 9 to count 18 points with one match to play and is now sure of promotion! On Sunday they will play their last match to try to close the season on the same number of points as Yuen Long.
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