|
The Premier league title was
returned to Mitcham this weekend
with the point from their 9 - 9
ensuring that, whatever the
outcome of Invicta's appeal to
the IKF, the Kent side would be
unable to catch them.
The big end of season clash that
the current league structure
seeks to bring about each year
looked set to fail to
materialise once again after
Invicta's recent defeat at the
hands of Trojans but Mitcham's
early celebrations quickly
turned to uncertainty as Trojans
launched an appeal with regard
to the game.
It
would appear that scoreboard
clock was not stopped and
restarted in line with the
referee's watch and with 2
minutes to go the clock was
indicating there more was twice
as much time left.
Invicta's appeal appears to be
based on the suggestion that had
they known there was only two
minutes left rather than four
they would played with more
urgency, although with another
qualified referee who happened
to be in the crowd keeping time
on his own watch their can be no
suggestion that the game did not
end on time.
Some may find it strange that
nobody in the Invicta coaching
team was keeping their own time
relying instead on what is
clearly an 'unofficial' clock
that it operated ad hoc at the
best of times by whoever
volunteers and has no bearing on
the actual time itself within
the current structure.
Invicta's initial complaint was
dismissed by the BKA and the
club then gave notice of their
appeal of the decision.
That meant that were Invicta to
win the 'end of season' clash
they could still retain some
hope of retaining their title in
that hope that their math with
Trojans would have to be
replayed.
Things certainly looked to be
going to plan for the Invicta as
they established a 6 - 3 lead in
front of a crowd far smaller
than some had hoped for.
In
truth this was far from an
entertaining spectacle, instead
proving a somewhat 'scrappy'
affair as Mitcham continued to
battle to get back into the
game.
Mitcham were without the
influential Karen Sparrow, out
with a dislocated shoulder but
unlike Invicta their strength in
depth ensured this was far from
the end of the world.
As
the half time approached Sam
Wells pulled Mitcham closer and
last minute goal from distance
from Steve Green gave Mitcham
hope with the score at 6 - 5.
A perfectly timed run from Ross
Bower drew a foul from James
McDonald sending Steve Green to
the penalty spot in the last
seconds of the first half but
Mitcham's chance of going into
the half time break even soon
disappeared as the GB player
sent the ball wide of the
basket.
In
the 2nd half Invicta coach Scott
Brooker brought on Kim Henderson
to replace Stephanie Roberts and
the move had an instant impact
as Henderson clever turned Abi
Cooke under the basket to take
the Invicta lead to 7 - 5.
Mitcham coach Colin Boy
responded to the substitution by
introducing Carly Holness for
Cooke and with Henderson now
having the responsibility for
defending Holness this could
have proved a crucial move.
As
has often been the case however
Mitcham struggled to make
effective use of the GB
international's awesome speed
and pace and it was not long
before she slotted into a
support role.
A
Dave Synott that literally crept
into the basket brought the
score to 7 - 6 and Mitcham's
chance to even the score looked
to finally come as Byron Atwell
drew a foul from Robbie McDonald
only for Dave Synott to miss
from the spot.
Carly Holness finally secured
the equaliser from distance
making rare use of the space
being offered to her and then
after some patient play in
attack Mitcham pulled ahead to
lead 8 - 7 with a well taken
goal from distance from Ross
Bower.
Suddenly things began to look
very different for Invicta and
with Mitcham looking in control
Robbie McDonald indicated to the
Invicta coach that he wanted to
come off, a sign maybe of
Invicta's frustration as the
title slipped from their grasp.
Rob Williams had other ideas as
he pulled the score back to 8 -
8 with a goal from the half way
line.
With the game at a crucial stage
Carly Holness chose exactly the
right moment to open up the
Invicta defence and as she
collided with James McDonald,
Dave Synotts quick reactions
allowed him to tip the ball into
the Invicta basket from the
tightest of spaces strengthening
Mitcham's grip on the title.
With ten minutes to go the game
turned into a battle between the
two sides as Invicta continued
to press unsuccessfully to
snatch the win they so
desperately needed with Mitcham
seemingly happy to dig in and
avoid the weeks of uncertainty
that they would have to endure
if they did not leave the game
with at least a point.
Mitcham looked to have the game
won as a rare Carly Holness
distance shot circled the inside
of the Invicta basket only to
pop out at the last minute and
as the referee's watch continued
to tick down Mitcham seemed
happy to hand on to possession
and were lucky not to have been
penalised for time wasting.
The scoreboard clock was sadly
not used leaving those
spectators without stop watches
to simply guess but with 5
minutes to go Natasha Trigg gave
Invicta some hope as she scored
from distance leading the
Mitcham coach to call a time
out.
Mitcham's patient possession,
helped by Invicta's strange
decision to mark them out of
defence in the final minutes,
ensured that they secured the
point they needed and although
the title was probably not won
in the style they might liked
most seemed relieved to have won
it.
James McDonald received a yellow
card after the game, presumably
for comments made to referee
Paul Jeanes and having received
a similar card earlier in the
season the Invicta player may
well miss the forthcoming BKA
cup semi final.
This was hardly the sort of
classic end of season game that
those few who watched might have
hoped as the score suggests but
their was a moment ironic
entertainment as Robbie McDonald
complained loudly that his
opponent had used 'bad
language'.
Mitcham went into the season as
favourites and in truth are
deserving champions.
Mitcham's strength as ever has
been their depth which has
resulted in some of the Mitcham
players in the GB senior squad
playing much of their season in
the Reserve league.
With rumours already beginning
to circulate as to movements of
both players and coaches next
season Mitcham will be confident
that such events will not affect
them either way, with little
space in their squad for players
from elsewhere.
For Invicta it will be a summer
of where the club goes from here
and they may well struggle to
compete with Mitcham in future
years unless they address their
lack of depth.
Whether the appeal does go ahead
remains to be seen but whatever
the outcome it will not have any
meaningful influence on the
European places.
In
reality the 'problem' should
have been able to materialise
and clearly British Korfball
needs to seriously reflect on
the direction it is heading with
regard to its domestic
competition.
It
is sad that is has taken the
sport so many years to realise
that scoreboard clocks are an
important part of the
competition. The last
minute count down used with such
great success at the Youth
Talent World Cup is something
that provides far greater
excitement and intensity at the
end of matches where the score
is close. Hopefully those
have the power to make such
rules will also come to realise
that a simple switch to the US
basketball system, whereby as
long as the ball is in the air
when the buzzer goes it still
counts, would have an even
greater impact.
The new synthetic baskets and
the free pass rules would appear
here to stay, whether we like
them or not, and our failure to
adopt both in the coming season
will without doubt impact
negatively on our fortunes at
the highest levels.
The plastic baskets will of
course demand far better levels
of technical skill than the
rattan baskets do and without
doubt the score line in the
Mitcham v Invicta game would
have been lower than it was were
the new baskets to have been
used. You had to feel
sorry for the referee who under
the pressure of such an
important game continually
pointed to the 'hard free pass'
line without thinking only to
have to correct himself by
reverting to the rule currently
used in the national leagues.
In
other Premier league action
Trojans proved too strong for
Kwiek with the Trojans ending
the season with a comfortable 15
- 10 win. Kwiek's aim
coming into the season was
simply to survive and with one
of the youngest sides in the
Premier league will looking
forward to going into next
season with somewhat greater
aspirations.
In
Saturday's action Bec ended the
season on a winning note as they
defeated Nottingham 21 - 16 in
what by all accounts was a
highly entertaining clash
between the two middle of the
table sides.
In Division 1 2nd placed
Kingfishers were crowned
champions after North Downs were
deducted points by virtue of the
BKA 'Development rule' which
means the Kent side gain
automatic promotion to the
Premier league next season.
With the gap between the Premier
and Division league a
considerable one in terms of
standard the Kent side will face
a tough test if they are to
survive in their first year
bearing in mind they remain the
2nd best side in Division 1 this
season.
The development moves the
Cambridge National league team
up into 2nd place in the
Division bringing a
promotion/relegation play off
clash with Nomads although it is
unlikely indeed that the 3rd
best team in the lower Division
will prove capable enough to
overcome a Premier league side.
Premier league results |
Premier table |
Division 1 results |
Division 1 table
KorfballNet 27/03/06
Want to make your views on this or
any Korfball news known - then why
not visit the discussion forums at
Korfball.com or
Korfballworld.com
|
