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Post date: Aug 7, 2013 10:09:58 PM
Nottingham’s prevailing south-westerly gales, perhaps more suitable for a wind farm than beautifully flowing athletic ultimate, were the backdrop to Clapham’s continual ramp-up to Chesapeake, European’s and World’s. Make no mistake, the journey has already started.
The two O and D squads of 12 from the previous tour combined into one team of 18 and the two lines played both offense & defense all weekend. In a potentially difficult environment for development, the goal was set to maintain the high level of focus and intensity needed to close out games by playing at the level aspired to.
Game 1 vs Ka-Pow!
Ka-Pow are a real mix of experience, age & developing talent and these boys came out hard. They were prepared to run deep and put up a lot of hucks. After initial successes, CU players and the wind started to close the skies. The different Clapham zones started to warm up and the addition of ‘cheese’ shouts added to the defensive pressure. On offense, players were hesitant in the wind and cutters tried to help by come too close. The result wasn’t pretty but CU eventually pulled away for the win.
Game 2 vs GB Under 23
Their loud, confident and supremely positive attitude came out and kicked us in the nuts for a 3 nil lead. A Clapham timeout, whilst GB celebrated, gave the required focus and CU went on a 4 point rally. On any other day summer’s day this game would have been a great spectacle. Unfortunately the rain was now horizontal, the number of turns went up accordingly and players were still not playing the systems. CU’s second objective was set; man the **** up. We needed to take individual responsibility to make the hard but needed throws into the wind and to cut expansively using the systems. The result was noticeable, even trapped in our own end zone, there was now space and re-sets were coming off more easily. GB continued to apply hard pressure on D but unlike spring chicken Sol, they couldn’t produce the goods. Clapham just didn’t look back after his shoulder height layout block. In all honesty, this is a GB squad with ridiculous amounts of potential. If they play only a little more patiently on O and up their percentages they will dominate. Good luck in Toronto!
Game 3 vs Ranalagh
Unsurprisingly, CU weren’t keen to hang out in the driving rain and so the game was moved forward, making it 3 on the bounce. The lesson learned in the previous GB game was carried forward with great effect. After a couple of miscues early on, playing expansively really started to pay off as CU began to get into proper flow patterns. The lads from Ireland seemed to have a harder time with the conditions and the number of turns really hurt their offensive efforts. With his Clapham career already off to a great start, new comer Stephan Rossbauer decided to end on a high note with a sick layout score.
Semi Final vs EMO
Sunday afternoon. A new day, a new pitch orientation, same big wind. EMO came out of the blocks willing and able to huck it up wind and they took the first point. The CU D line was playing the down wind points and EMO’s zone required a lot of patience. As CU is still learning the ways of consistent D line offense (taking easy options), Tom Abrams went into another gear to everyone else and started on a D-spree, including 4 blocks in one point. In the meantime, Clapham’s O line made short work of EMO’s upwind zone, consistently playing through the cup, or hucking it upwind. When did Britney develop that backhand? In search of more pitch time, Jamie even snuck onto the D line for a sublime first pass huck assist, show off. EMO’s expansive systems and looks made shutdown defense difficult in the first half and it wasn’t until the second that certain individuals took on responsibility, generating true blocks that closed it out at 15 / 7.
Final vs Chevron
Following the long GB buildup to Japan, the Nottingham final was a return to the classic domestic battle against Chevron. However, Chevy were unusually subdued and light on numbers, with 9 of their lads playing with GB U23s. In contrast, Clapham’s momentum continued building with each game and Giacomo Maltman’s block & score set the tone. The game was largely a zone affair with long bouts of patient zone offense from both sides. CU’s O line were particularly effective at resetting it again and again in tight spaces. During the sporadic moments of man D, there were surprisingly few deep shots from Chevy, whilst the CU D line were willing to play big and gaining yards from it. The returning David Stobbs put in a solid handling shift like he’d never been away and the conversion rate for the D line was at it’s best of the weekend.
Can Clapham focus and finish games off? 15 / 5.
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