Game 5 DOS ’46 4 vs. Wit-Blauw 2
Coops and Cam were looking forward to a Saturday sleep in after four long days of fruit picking during the week. Luckily our home game against Wit-Blauw (White-Blue) from Kampen had been moved to 5pm.
As seems to be the nature of the fourth team, it was another different collection of players taking to the court for this game. The pre-game warm up was also somewhat rushed for us. Conversely, our opposition had already completed warm-up drills, stopped to talk and then continued to stay active with more running and shooting before the game.
Once again, Coops started in aanval and I was in verdediging. Wit-Blauw’s extensive pre-game preparation quickly paid off on court as they scored from a very high percentage of their shots early on in the game. This left DOS ’46 4 stunned. Our disjointed pre-game routine, combined with having another new group of players meant neither vak had any attacking momentum with which we could respond to Wit-Blauw’s goal scoring. After a few quick changes of ends, the scoreboard revealed the extent of the bleeding, 1-7 in favour of the visitors. As the half progressed Wit-Blauw’s shooting percentage faded dramatically as we managed to pick off a few goals (but far from enough) of our own. We were not helped when I missed a penalty chance, but I did manage to score one goal that was probably the longest running in shot of my life. Matilda cut in an early feed during an attack, I passed to her from about 15m from the korf (remember DOS ‘46’s home field in oversized at about 50mx25m) and just gassed it to the korf to score but it was long way to get there by korfball standards! At half time we were down by three, the score was 5-8.
The second half continued as the first ended with Wit-Blauw struggling with their shooting while we were minimising our defensive errors but still not creating great attacking flow. Through, Niek converting some free pass opportunities and myself scoring a penalty chance, we continued to draw closer to Wit-Blauw on the scoreboard. Coops was venting her frustration as the shots were just not dropping today, making a noise similar to the mating cry of a walrus (according to Cam), much to the entertainment of our fellow Dossers. I felt for the first time during this Dutch Korfball Odyssey that I was starting understand what my roles were on court and able to play more effectively for the team. This was probably due to the hard lessons I had learned from struggling in previous games, combined with great communication from Chris. At 9-10, I finally converted my third attempt in a good attacking sequence, scoring my first long shot of the game to level the scores. A goal a piece during the next change of ends left the scores even with less than five minutes to play. Our vak, through good combinations, was again able to create another scoring chance that I converted from distance as we took the lead 12-11. With only a couple of attacks left in the game no more goals were scored and the kiwis were finally part of a win for the first time.
Relief was the overriding emotion for DOS ’46 4. After such a terrible start to the game it was a pleasant surprise to come out on the right side of the score line in the end. However, we must start scoring more goals. For Coops and I we are starting to feel that we are understanding different aspects of the game better now and have much improved vision on court. There is still much to learn and many skills to improve on but that is the challenge we get to look forward to as this Odyssey continues.
One final point – I had to shout a round of beers for the team after the game for missing the penalty. No more missed penalties or this could get expensive!
Lorenzo
Coops and Cam were looking forward to a Saturday sleep in after four long days of fruit picking during the week. Luckily our home game against Wit-Blauw (White-Blue) from Kampen had been moved to 5pm.
As seems to be the nature of the fourth team, it was another different collection of players taking to the court for this game. The pre-game warm up was also somewhat rushed for us. Conversely, our opposition had already completed warm-up drills, stopped to talk and then continued to stay active with more running and shooting before the game.
Once again, Coops started in aanval and I was in verdediging. Wit-Blauw’s extensive pre-game preparation quickly paid off on court as they scored from a very high percentage of their shots early on in the game. This left DOS ’46 4 stunned. Our disjointed pre-game routine, combined with having another new group of players meant neither vak had any attacking momentum with which we could respond to Wit-Blauw’s goal scoring. After a few quick changes of ends, the scoreboard revealed the extent of the bleeding, 1-7 in favour of the visitors. As the half progressed Wit-Blauw’s shooting percentage faded dramatically as we managed to pick off a few goals (but far from enough) of our own. We were not helped when I missed a penalty chance, but I did manage to score one goal that was probably the longest running in shot of my life. Matilda cut in an early feed during an attack, I passed to her from about 15m from the korf (remember DOS ‘46’s home field in oversized at about 50mx25m) and just gassed it to the korf to score but it was long way to get there by korfball standards! At half time we were down by three, the score was 5-8.
The second half continued as the first ended with Wit-Blauw struggling with their shooting while we were minimising our defensive errors but still not creating great attacking flow. Through, Niek converting some free pass opportunities and myself scoring a penalty chance, we continued to draw closer to Wit-Blauw on the scoreboard. Coops was venting her frustration as the shots were just not dropping today, making a noise similar to the mating cry of a walrus (according to Cam), much to the entertainment of our fellow Dossers. I felt for the first time during this Dutch Korfball Odyssey that I was starting understand what my roles were on court and able to play more effectively for the team. This was probably due to the hard lessons I had learned from struggling in previous games, combined with great communication from Chris. At 9-10, I finally converted my third attempt in a good attacking sequence, scoring my first long shot of the game to level the scores. A goal a piece during the next change of ends left the scores even with less than five minutes to play. Our vak, through good combinations, was again able to create another scoring chance that I converted from distance as we took the lead 12-11. With only a couple of attacks left in the game no more goals were scored and the kiwis were finally part of a win for the first time.
Relief was the overriding emotion for DOS ’46 4. After such a terrible start to the game it was a pleasant surprise to come out on the right side of the score line in the end. However, we must start scoring more goals. For Coops and I we are starting to feel that we are understanding different aspects of the game better now and have much improved vision on court. There is still much to learn and many skills to improve on but that is the challenge we get to look forward to as this Odyssey continues.
One final point – I had to shout a round of beers for the team after the game for missing the penalty. No more missed penalties or this could get expensive!
Lorenzo