Göttingen

 

Thursday, midday meeting at Lee Valley for the start of a LONG journey! A very full trailer of boats and the party bus packed with the team and kit, we headed for the ferry. A ferry and a drive later we ended up at a hotel, then started the final drive on Friday which of course was bugged with traffic and some pit stops! After setting up camp we had a short training session to shake off the 18 hour drive. Then off to food in town (massive bowls of pasta).

Saturday morning: an early game for us against Essen, 6:2 loss. Then Coburg another 6:2 loss. Both teams ended up in final so were by far our hardest games but a good challenge both mentally and physically, playing against some of the greatest women polo players in the world. 

Essen 6:2

Coberg 6:2

The next two games were totally opposite, winning against Gottigen B and Duisburg later in the day. Lots of great moves but lots to improve on too!

Gottigen B- 8:0

Duisburg- 7:3

Saturday night dinner consisted off giant pizzas and some yummy desserts. Bed nice and early! 

Day two

A quick warm up at 7:15 then a talk to prepare for playing Hamburg. A well fought game and by far a great improvement from yesterday. A great goal by Nicole in the top of the net from 10 metres out. Although we probed hard a final score of 3:1 to Hamburg meant we did not progress to the semi finals. 

Our 5th 6th play off faced many of our u21 German opponents from Berlin. A 3:0 lead at half time for Berlin meant a hard fought second half to make the final score 3:2. A quick goal from the sprint put us back in the game at the start of the second half. Then a break from a five out put us in contention, but couldn’t pull back the 3rd goal.

Hamburg 3:1

Berlin 3:2

All packed up and ready for our drive home, a trip to maccies then set off to Essen Club house. After a good nights sleep and a drive we arrived at Calais! But high winds and rain mean we have a LONGGGG wait for the ferry 😦

Overall the weekend was very productive some very hard games but a great start to our season. The team already starting to form more with Katie Howes making her debut in goal! Dani slotting back into a side flanker position with Amira working to kick beasts like Günter out of the defence even though being half the weight and height. Georgie has learnt to stay away from the side to avoid reconcussion. Nicole left her usual position to push out and smash the oppositions defence. Of course Farley and Lucy were wizzing around the pitch as usual winning balls all over the place! And Caitlin slotting in as defender rather than as the second goal keeper. 

KATIE HOWES was voted player of the weekend, a massive step up to play in goal making some great saves at critical times. And whipped out some madddd paddle skills!! #keeperhowes