Monday, December 7, 2009

AKITA bounces back from the previous week against KING'S 29 - 13 (14 - 6)

As we are getting closer to Christmas, filling the squad seems to become more and more difficult. From the 9 of the previous week, AKITA went down to 8 as Hans return was offset by Dominik sitting an exam and Markus having left for holidays. The KING's team had to cope with 7 players only guaranteeing AKITA that the rhythm of the match should suit them. As a consequence, PA moved to the left wing while Hans retrieved his usual half right position. Norbert (HL), Ulf (C), Michael (RW) and Matsuo (L) kept their previous week positions.

After an exchange of wide shooting, KING'S managed the first goal but Hans immediately answered. The AKITA defense was well in place and as the KING'S team was forced into shooting from poor positions, Wan could keep the goal clear as Norbert with Hans put 2 more goals each in from the halves. After 10 minutes, Norbert made the score 6 - 1 using his quick hands for a steal and then slotting the ball through with a lob despite being fouled in the air from the back. The KING'S player was out for 2 minutes but Norbert needed to join the bench injured. PA switched into the half position whereas Rolf came on the wing. This did not stop the attacking flow as PA scored the following 2. As KING'S was creating more movement they managed to get their attack going but AKITA kept on building their advantage. As he was benefiting from the space created by Rolf’s drawing his wing away PA scored again and followed this by converting a penalty for 10 -4. KING’S took a time out to try to change the fate of the match and although it was followed by a goal, the last 5 minutes were still in AKITA favour as goals came from all sides. Michael went around his defender at full speed to score with a well taken bouncing shot from the right wing. Ulf followed with a clever moved to the left wing and a perfect shoot into the opposite top corner, PA slotted a bowling shot between the legs of the keeper while falling and Matsuo was finally rewarded for his hard work on the line with a good ball that he converted surely. KING’S was able to crawl one back making it 14 – 6 at half time.

At half time, only few adjustments were discussed as the most important was to keep focus and rest considering the lack of bench. The KING’S defense was trying to play higher to take the AKITA players earlier, although conceptually right it also opened more space behind them. Hans went on his own to add his fourth immediately after the restart but a second yellow card a minute later forced him to a 2 minute rest. After few turnovers and no goal conceded despite being one player down, AKITA was able to feed Matsuo with good balls. Matsuo scored his second quickly followed by his third on a great pass from Hans returning from the sin-bin. As Ulf was accelerating the circulation of the ball, it was giving good opportunities for the halves again. Goals from PA, Matsuo and a pair by Hans made it 21 – 9 with 10 minutes to go. At that time AKITA’s defense was getting less tight with the tiredness and for 5 minutes KING’S combinations on free throws combined with 2 minutes for PA allowed them to match the AKITA team. Despite the injury, Norbert was able to come back and answered to KING’S 10th and 11th. As he was running back from the sin-bin, PA received the ball from Ulf in the centre position and immediately made it 24 -12.

KINGS managed one more on the restart but the last 5 minutes were one way only. Hans saw a gap and just scored before his team mates even arrived in attack. As Ulf moved in the left wing, he managed to quick goals including a speedy run from one side to the other after catching the bounce of a Norbert block. Norbert added one more trying on a "kempa" for the audience and Hans closed the scoring with 2 minutes to go. After this solid performance, the AKITA players will have a break as their next match is only on the 19th of January. This will be the revenge from last year as it will be against Yuen Long. In the mean time, players will enjoy some rest and the blog will most likely do the same!


Hans 8, PA 7, Norbert 6, Matsuo 4, Ulf 3, Michael 1

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

AKITA ends defeated 22-23 by HYDRO in a rollercoaster of a match (8-14)

After 3 weeks without training and 6 weeks since the last match, the AKITA team was pretty much jumping in the unknown. The situation was being made worse by many forfeits because of traveling or illness reducing the squad size to 9 only with Wan being the only keeper. Markus started on the left wing, Norbert moved from centre to left half to compensate for Stefan absence, Ulf returned in the centre, PA temped for unwell Hans in half right whereas Dominik started on the right wing. Matsuo kept his line position. Michael and Rolf were completing the team sheet.

Despite being obviously rusty, the AKITA team started well in attack. Norbert drew first blood with a good penetration. Unfortunately, HYDRO was able to answer immediately as AKITA defense was lacking practice in this tinkered configuration. PA restored the advantage with an 8 meter shot but once again HYDRO was able to equalise. The teams were close as PA second goal and Matsuo first were also matched making it 4 - 4 after 5 minutes. As the HYDRO defense was moving higher, the AKITA pass became more random and this benefited their opponents who intercepted few balls and built the first gap of the match on fastbreaks. Markus scored on his first shot of the wing but with Wan making excellent parade, AKITA was just not getting the bounces and rather than capitalising on these stops was letting HYDRO score on the rebounds and build a 3 goal gap. PA's hip shot before going to rest on the bench made it 6 - 8 but soon it was a 4 goal difference. Except the impeccable shooting of Markus who added another, nothing seemed to go AKITA way. With 4 minutes to go, the score was 12 - 7. A PA goal followed by 2 HYDRO goals meant a 8 - 14 half time score.

With a six goal deficit at half time, it was a big tally to face but all players were convinced that it was possible to climb back. Unfortunately, the Team was still struggling to make an impact. Despite goals by Norbert and Markus, HYDRO managed to expand the gap to 8 goals with 20 minutes to play (18 - 10). With their back on the wall, AKITA finally found the right mix in defense. Between interception, blocks and keeper saves, HYDRO just could not get a goal anymore for the following 10 minutes. This allowed a string of 7 unanswered goals. The left side of AKITA was doing a lot of damage as Markus and Norbert traded 4 before Ulf found space in the defense for his first one. Norbert's movement and energy was making a big impact, he added 2 more to reach 17 - 18 and allow a completely new match to start with 10 minutes to go.

Hydro finally scored to restore a 2 goal advantage but Markus kept on finding the right space to stay within one. Michael jumped higher than the defense to find the space and his 2 successive goals made score 20 - 20 with five minutes to play. AKITA was then given a chance to move in front as they intercepted the ball and were running in the fast break but a traveling under the pressure of a push was whistled against AKITA. HYDRO immediately managed to use that to come back in front. Another turnover mad it 22 -20 with 3 minutes to go. Matsuo reduced the score but another assassin shot from the Hydro wing almost sealed the match with one minute to go. A penalty converted by Norbert made it 22 - 23 but the HYDRO team just had to hold on to the ball for 15 seconds to register the first win against AKITA of any team this year.

In the AKITA camp, it was the disappointment that was prevailing. Disappointment not to have concluded what could have been a magnificent return but also the impression for all of the players that they had the chance at a moment or another to score one more or concede one less. The team will have to bounce immediately as they are playing on the following WE and cannot lose more points on the way. Hopefully between new and returning players, the squad will be deeper for that occasion.

Norbert 7, Markus 6, PA 4, Michael 2, Matsuo 2, Ulf 1

The HK Giants Team

The HK Giants Team