And the games began.

We played a round robin, with each team playing the other 3 teams once. The games were to 11 - with a soft cap at 35 minutes and a hard cap at 40. We were given a little bit of time to bond with our teams, we used that time to chat to each other, go through the rules and for some strategy.

Joe's team played Brent's and Ian's played mine. Then Joe's played Ian's and we played Brent's. At this stage Joe's team and my team had each won 2 games and the other 2 teams had each lost 2. So we ended the day with two hard fought and very even games. In our game, Joe's team went 1-0 up before we had blinked and we realised we were going to play a lot harder. Fighting back, we moved 2 points ahead and then, in the fading light, they came back to make the score even. It came down to sudden death. There were lots of drops on both sides (It really was hard to see), but also some amazingly hard play, and the disc went back and forth. Eventually we won.

On the other side, Ian's team was victorious - to be confirmed :) Their game ended before ours.

Half of the last game was played with the light-up discs and it made a big difference. Great advert - if anyone wants one - Richard (in Cape Town, but soon Durban) is selling them for R220.

After the games, tired and sore, we went to a braai. There was going to be a video (Bryan I want my DVD back :) but it wouldnt work and since most people were pretty tired we sat around, ate, drank and chatted. A lovely relaxed evening.

The next morning at 8:30 we were expected back at the Ferndale fields to try and beat the heat. Well, we got there by 8:30ish, but it was still pretty hot by the time we finished playing. This time: the Cape Town people, joined by 4 Joburgers (thanks for playing with us Siphiso, Manfred, Mike and Greg) formed one team. PMB with some extras formed a Pietermaritzburg flavoured team. And then there were two 'even' Joburg teams - lets call them Martin's team and Alaine's team.

Now this was more serious stuff (for one thing we were there at 8:30 :) and this time there were no beginners (also for some reason no Pretoria players)

We played the first game against Alaine's team and Martin's played PMB. Our team and Martin's team won after good games. Then we had to play Martin's team. This looked like it was going to be a tough one, but we didnt know what hit us. We were 4-0 down in a flash. Some great defensive play (special note Peter - great D) really closed us down and we were struggling. But we came back. Eventually it was 4-4. And then we got a turnover and the disc on their endzone line. We turned it over and they scored. It was 5-4 to them and in the cap. We were already starting to congratulate them when it turned out that still had to be ahead by two. We had one more chance. We blew it, the pressure and a couple of drops and it was 6-4 and the end.

A good, hard game. On the other side the PMB team won their game against Joburg and proved that their style can be effective.

It then came to the last game, us against PMB and Joburg A (Martin) vs Joburg 1 (Alaine :) Our game was hard and close, but we kept pulling the zone defence and eventually they cracked under the pressure and we won 6-4 (after being at 4-4). On the other side there was a huge ebb and flow and we listened intently to the scores. If Alaines team won, we still had a chance of a rematch with Martins team Resin. Alaines team was up then were brought even and then were up 7-4, but in a well deserved victory Resin recovered to win 8-7 (final point score by Esther - yes you do have to mark the girls too :)

After the game, people started heading home and about half the players headed off to Martins house for a braai. We sat around and chatted and ate for a few hours and then people wandered off home and to the airport.

That was that, a great weekend - to see the pics