By Ben Smith and TJ Burgess
Game 3- Knights -v- Cavaliers (5-10)
- We went into this game knowing that the Cavaliers were going to be a though team testing the lads defensively, but also goals wouldn't come easy without the attack pulling together.
- At the face off we struggled, the first three faces the lads outlined how quick and tactical the opponent was. In the first half of the game Bo and Dan between them won 4. Heading into the second half of the game this struggle at the face off x continued with the lads only winning 2 of the faces, Impacted the possession within the attacking third.
- Throughout the first half Ethan pulled off 8 saves in total keeping us within reach of the cavaliers. The second half of the game Lewis took to the cage saving 4 shots. The Cavaliers continued to pummel our goalies with amazing shoots and plays, but each of the goal keepers stood tall and pulled off some amazing saves including Louise's outstanding final save. In total the keepers had an outstanding game between them both.
- Our first goal came from Cameron Major after going down 1-0 to an early goal, major intercepted a pass and broke up the field dodging past one defender and stinging the bottom corner with an under arm shot. Will Prescott then got our send goal making the scores 2-1. Cavaliers continued to keep the pressure on our defensive taking back the lead. Our second two goals came from Elliot B and Tom M, finishing the game 10-4 in favour of the Cavaliers.
- Elliot B had two assists, feeding Will P on the crease and Tom M on the run with a step down shot.
- None of the players had their shooting boots on, with us having 13 shots off target and 7 shots on target. Some of the shots that we had the lads knew that if they had finished them the game would have been a lot closer. This was an area that needed to be improved on if we were going to win the next game.
Game 4- knights -v- HOCO (4-11)
- After coming off a though game against the cavaliers, HOCO would be the next best chance for the lads to get their first win of the tour. Ever single lad was hyped up and went into the game with a winning mentality.
- At the face off x Bo and Dan had another fantastic game between them winning 10 out off 17 faces. This would mean that the attack had possession and meant we could control the game just like we intended to do from the start.
- In the cage the first half was Ethan, and second half was Lewis pulling off 7 saves between them. There wasn't many shots that tested our keepers with the defence standing strong as a unit and not allowing HOCO the time and room to get a good enough shot. Our defence made them work for the goals, withered single defensive player playing their heart out to keep the game alive.
- The lads played a physical game, with some big hits flying around shaking up HOCO. Tom M had an amazing take out coursing a turn over, which then led to us scored a goal.
- Our goals came from Elliot, Pres, Nathan and Jonsey, with Mike P hitting the post several times coming close to scored but it just wasn't happening. Assists came from Mike, Elliot x2 and Nathan. Overall the attack and midfield put out a solid performance, with the score line not reflecting how the lads played.
- The highlight player within this game was Jordan. Throughout the game he commanded the LSM position on the field, but also dominating the defence with numerous amounts of knocks downs and checks.
Game 5- Knights -v- Lax World (6-8)
- After loosing the two of the four games on the day so far, this time it was time to get a win!! We started the game off strong taking the lead early on, with Nathan coming from behind the goal and stinging the top corner putting us up 1-0. Again we took control of the face off x winning 50% of all faces.
- Again our defence showed an unreal game preventing lax world from getting any easy shots, which meant that either two of the goal keepers needed to pul off saves, with the chances not coming for lax world. In total the keepers only pulled off 6 saves throughout the whole game. These states just showed how the team has developed through out each of tournament.
- The goals coming from: Will P, Nathan, Tom M and Elliot x2. Each of the goals came down to team work, not one of the goals came easy, we had to work, fight and us our plays to score them.
- In total the attack racked up 16 shots on target, with us hitting the post several times. The keeper on lax world pulled out some amazing saves keeping them in the game.
- The highlight player of the game was Elliot B scoring 2 goals and also 2 assists, this was by far the best performance on the pitch leading to a tough lose, but overall the best performance by the team so far! Elliott had a NIFTY (and with that I win the race to Nifty! Shout to Booker Corrigan) late in the game receiving a pass inside to then produce a brilliant back hand scoop shot low, however the large Laxworld goalie made a brilliant save! Great creativity by Elliottt and deserved a goal!
Halfway through the game Elliott Bickerton wanted the ball and stared to get frustrated with me, telling me I was asking the midfield to initiate, he wanted the ball and wanted to make an impact!
I loved his attitude and he had a lot of balls stepping up and telling me that, I told him he was absolutely right and if he wanted it then to take his man on. He's a very tough player for his size he out muscles most defenders, has great vision and is a fantastic dodger. He's definitely one of my favourite Knights players ever. Anyway he went to work and proved himself right, taking the team on his shoulders and producing!
Thanks to Graham Larkin for coming down to watch and take some brilliant pictures. Graham works in the on campus cafe and is from the UK. Great guy and nice to see you again.
Game 6- Knights -v- Haymakers (3-4)
- This was our final game of the day, we had set the lads a target of achieving two wins from four games, even tho go this target wouldn't be met, as coaches we could not fault any of their performances in any of the games. Going into this game we knew this was going to be one the toughest game of the day, and everything that the lads had left in the tank had to be thrown into this game if we were to come out with a win.
- Again at the face off x we dominated winning 5 out of the 7 faces. This was another fantastic game from the two face off players.
- Throughout the tournament each one of the goalkeepers have had fantastic games, and this was another one of them with them pulling off 9 saves in total between them. By far within the tournament this was the best performance of our defence. In the second half of the game we had to play D for 5 minutes, and didn't concede a goal. Ever single one of the defence players played out of their socks and kept us in reach of winning the game.
- Goals came from: Jones, Elliot and Billy
- The highlight players in this game was Dunny standing up to the plate in defence, sliding when needed, leading the defence and running even though he had an injury. Another player who had a fantastic game was Lewis saving some shots that would for definite have been certain goals if Lewis hadn't saved them.
A funny incident happened during this game, one of our players got angry and called an opposition player a W***KER! The player looked confused and as the referee was stood next to the incident he was worried that he missed something and looked perplexed by what had just happened, as he didn't understand the English Slang! He came over to the bench to ask if he should be offended, as I remember it we just laughed but someone may have said you are one!!! Always good to keep this slang in the back pocket another good one is B***end as no one has a clue what we are saying, the boys take great pride in teaching anyone that will listen what 'you're West' means and the other things already mentioned!
All-Star Game
Tom McArdle had the last game off tonight his leg was in a bad way and had given everything for the team His hustle is unmatched and he has played offence, defence and off the wing at face offs. Just before the last game of the day the coaches knew that someone would have been selected to the All Star game so we made our way over to the main tent to find out, we had had a little bet on the plane on the way over of who we thought would make it! Once the Organisers had posted the team on the wooden board in the main tent, the exact same place as I have seen Ryan Huns, Scott Dagnanleach and Joe Baythorpes name posted in past years! It is an amazingly proud moment for me to see one of the Knights name listed. We scoured the list and found Tom McArdles name appearing we all had a grin ear to ear as as we all agreed that he deserved it. We decided not to tell the team or Tom until we met for the pre game team talk in the team room. When the coaches had gone up to the rooms we noticed Tom walk out of the block hobbling, we had already decided to get him to the trainer to get a sports massage and to see if we could get him through the All Star game. What happened outside is one of my favourite memories of any Knights tour, Tom had walked down to the main stadium, past the board where his name had been posted and had began to walk back, I asked him if he was ok and he said to me he didn't know if he'd be able to play in the last game as he'd been struggling all day, I told him I understood but asked him if he'd looked at the board he had just passed, I said you'll have to play again tonight and he looked concerned I said Tommy you've been selected to the All Star game!!! He looked at me with disbelief and just kept saying Nah!! nah!!! I told him there was no one more deserving and thanked him for his efforts, he still didn't look like he believed me and just said I didn't expect that! I could tell he was proud and surprised and was just an amazing moment to see someone work so hard for two years, pushing through injuries during the training process and just being a great leader to suddenly and surprisingly to him be rewarded for it! Just shows what you get when you work at something!
The team walked down to the stadium after the final game (after showers) the game had just started and we sat in the bleachers with college coaches sat on the sideline watching and scouting the game. No Knight has ever scored in the All Star game and when Tom got on the field the team went crazy in the stand for T Mac! He received the ball on the top left, split one defender, side stepped the next and shot into the top left corner, I looked around at the lads and they where already celebrating, Dunny had his shirt off as us usual, swinging it around his head.
As in the first All Star game in 2011 and beyond the team did the Poznan in the stand as the line of coaches looked around open mouthed and the rest of the bleachers sat there in shock! An amazing moment!
We took the usual pictures with the All Star afterwards with the coaches and then the team! If you can find the team picture with Tom - you won't notice it at first................but when you do!!!
Night-
- Tom M got picked for the All Star game and scored, the lads went crazy!
- Visited the famous pizza house on campus, where we found out that the building was up for sale!
- We also took the daily trip to 7 11 where the lads have had the chance to stock up drinks, sweets and any other foods with numerous amounts of E numbers
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