Bec 9 Nomads 15
Nomads justified the two years of effort since their relegation from the National League today by guaranteeing at least fourth spot in the HSKL in their first season back in English Korfball's top flight with an assured performance in the most testing of circumstances.
The game started nervously with some loose passes and a couple of shots blocked through sharp defending, it was Bec who took the lead though, first with a runner and then with long shot from behind the basket.
Any worries that this would be a vital toehold in the game for Bec were soon dashed through some great invention from Nomads' Dutch import, Sytze Bijker, as he picked up two goals from right under the basket to level the game 2-2.
Nomads then took the lead for themselves, Joe Olds notching his first with a well worked free pass, it didn't last long though as another Bec runner levelled the scores at 3-3.
Sam Rowbottom than made her contribution to the scoreboard with a runner of her own.
Bec again levelled with a long shot but Nomads were about to hit their stride with only a few minutes before half time, those in the crowd were hoping to grab a goal to go in with a moral boosting half time lead.
The Nomads players however decided that three goals would be a far better idea and took the half time score to 7-4
Joe Olds began the mini-rout with a long shot before Ana Osbourne proved that despite talk of retirement, she still very much has it with a long shot.
There was still time for Sytze Bijker to rack up his third of the game with a textbook drop off shot and with that burst of scoring the hands on the clock of play-off destiny had swung away from Bec time and towards Nomads time.
Shortly before half time Kim Jones made way for Carole Dillon.
Bec came out for the second half needing to hit Nomads hard to get back into the game, they did manage the first goal of the half but Nomads soon restored the advantage with a Joe Olds penalty.
Nomads then had a second penalty and a chance to extend the lead but Joe Olds missed to the surprise of many and when Bec then scored from long to take the score to 8-6 the Bec faithful may have seen an opening to get back into the game.
Bijker though, had other ideas and he continued a fine days Korfball with a free pass and then a superbly worked drop off goal with Sam Rowbottom and Ean Irwin improvising their passes brilliantly to get the ball out to Sytze who was not going to miss.
Bec then pulled a goal back from long distance before an Olds runner was disallowed for cutting.
Ana Osbourne again had the better of her player when she pivoted around from the feed position to score with a classic Korfball trick.
Ean Irwin then joined the party as Nomads ticked the clock further towards Nomads time, scoring twice from long to take the score to 13-7.
Olds missed another penalty but it was to have little impact on the result.
Simon Cole then added a score of his own to put Nomads on 14 goals.
Bec scored from medium distance but Sytze Bijker stuck away a penalty to take the Nomads total to 15 goals, Bec hit the Korf one last time but at 15-9 they were well beaten and on the day the clocks went forward, the time was very much Nomads time!
Bec will of course rue their two 12-13 defeats against Trojans and Mitcham, victories in those games would have made this game a mere warm up for their play-off campaign but that is the beauty of Korfball, you can be on the brink of glory one minute and staring defeat in the face the next.
Nomads though, with a guaranteed fourth spot can already call their season a great success and a fine justification of the club regrouping and uniting as one to take the club back to it's place at the top level of English Korfball.
There is plenty to be proud about and hopefully even more to come...
COME ON YOU REDS!
Monday, 12 April 2010 14:08 | 
Written by Administrator | 
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