The countdown is on………83 days till my departure to NZ. 83 days to soak up as much korfball knowledge and as much European atmosphere as I can. Interestingly enough, during this week my time in the Netherlands passed 200 days as well!
This week I absorbed the korfball and atmosphere in Groningen. This began by joining the students at Parabol for training on Monday evening. Full of laughs and fun, it was nice to meet another group of korfball players and let them all refresh their English speaking skills. I appreciate the club inviting this nomadic korfball kiwi into their mix. No doubt leaving more people with the impression I’m a little nuts coming all the way to the other side of the world to experience korfball. We also took the time to head along and watch Nic play KZ in the Korfball League. Nic, a long-time nemesis of DOS ’46, have had a tough year in the Korfball League and the game against KZ was no different. After a quiet first half where the score was 8-9 at the break, KZ’s goal scoring ability was unleashed in the second half against the obviously weaker team from Groningen. KZ scored 20 doelpunten (goals), looking at one stage like they would end up with double the score of the home team. In front of the sparse crowd that typifies a struggling team, Nic continued to fight to no avail, losing 17-29.
In between the korfball was checking out Groningen. The city reminded me of Dunedin in NZ where I grew up and studied. There was a great vibe in the university-dominated city with a strong café culture and social atmosphere. I joined a number of locals in the bar watching the Dutch success in the speed skating at the Winter Olympics, races which seemed to have much of the population glued to a TV set. For the tourist in Groningen there are not so many historical sights to see, the Martinitoren (Martini Tower) being the main attraction, but there are certainly plenty of other attractive views as you walk around the city.
Back to Nijeveen, and after putting a dislocated finger back in at training on Friday evening, it was another home game weekend for the senior DOS ’46 teams while A1 was playing away in a top of the table clash against DSC. DOS 3 are searching for points to stay in the Reserve Hoofdklasse but some outstanding shooting from their opposition gave them little chance of succeeding in that search today. Avanti scored a massive 20 doelpunten in the first half to lead 12-20 at the break. Their scoring did not slow down in the second half either having a convincing 22-36 win over the home side. With three games left and one point behind in the fight to avoid relegation, DOS 3 must find some points soon.
DOS ’46 2 were up against club rivals Nic 3. While both teams are sitting comfortably in the Reserve Hoofdklasse, this is always a match with much feeling and intensity. After DOS building an early lead, Nic fought back, leveling the scores and then building a four-goal lead of their own. In a seesaw game, DOS then managed to establish their own four-goal lead in the second half, only to see it disappear with another Nic fight back leaving the scores tied 16-16. Tight defence from both sides dominated the final stages of the match. With scores tied at 20-20, DOS ’46 scored the decisive goal and held on with more strong defence for a 21-20 win.
DOS ’46 1 was out for revenge against KVA, whom they surprisingly lost to in the reverse game last year. While not being as technically skilled, KVA are fighters and built an early four-goal lead. After this the defence from the home team began to dominate and technical superiority in the attack allowed a lead to slowly build for DOS ’46. This attacking skill was proven by the goals being shared around, five players scoring five or more doelpunten with brothers Sven and Jelmer Jonker topping the score sheet with six each. Final score 31-21. Unfortunately the last mathematical chance to make the playoffs disappeared as SKF, whom DOS ’46 defeated last week, won their match to be five points ahead with only two games left.
DOS A1 also suffered disappointed, being defeated in their top of the table clash 22-20. This means they must win against KCC next week to secure their spot in the semi-finals.
To top the week off, today was also the final DOS KIDs for this round. The feedback on the programme has been glowing. It would be great if we could set up something similar in NZ to help develop younger players in the sport!
Next week it is off to Belgium to infiltrate the korfball community there for a week and no doubt sample some Belgian cuisine and beer!
Ik vond het wel lekker gaan eigenlijk!
Lorenzo
This week I absorbed the korfball and atmosphere in Groningen. This began by joining the students at Parabol for training on Monday evening. Full of laughs and fun, it was nice to meet another group of korfball players and let them all refresh their English speaking skills. I appreciate the club inviting this nomadic korfball kiwi into their mix. No doubt leaving more people with the impression I’m a little nuts coming all the way to the other side of the world to experience korfball. We also took the time to head along and watch Nic play KZ in the Korfball League. Nic, a long-time nemesis of DOS ’46, have had a tough year in the Korfball League and the game against KZ was no different. After a quiet first half where the score was 8-9 at the break, KZ’s goal scoring ability was unleashed in the second half against the obviously weaker team from Groningen. KZ scored 20 doelpunten (goals), looking at one stage like they would end up with double the score of the home team. In front of the sparse crowd that typifies a struggling team, Nic continued to fight to no avail, losing 17-29.
In between the korfball was checking out Groningen. The city reminded me of Dunedin in NZ where I grew up and studied. There was a great vibe in the university-dominated city with a strong café culture and social atmosphere. I joined a number of locals in the bar watching the Dutch success in the speed skating at the Winter Olympics, races which seemed to have much of the population glued to a TV set. For the tourist in Groningen there are not so many historical sights to see, the Martinitoren (Martini Tower) being the main attraction, but there are certainly plenty of other attractive views as you walk around the city.
Back to Nijeveen, and after putting a dislocated finger back in at training on Friday evening, it was another home game weekend for the senior DOS ’46 teams while A1 was playing away in a top of the table clash against DSC. DOS 3 are searching for points to stay in the Reserve Hoofdklasse but some outstanding shooting from their opposition gave them little chance of succeeding in that search today. Avanti scored a massive 20 doelpunten in the first half to lead 12-20 at the break. Their scoring did not slow down in the second half either having a convincing 22-36 win over the home side. With three games left and one point behind in the fight to avoid relegation, DOS 3 must find some points soon.
DOS ’46 2 were up against club rivals Nic 3. While both teams are sitting comfortably in the Reserve Hoofdklasse, this is always a match with much feeling and intensity. After DOS building an early lead, Nic fought back, leveling the scores and then building a four-goal lead of their own. In a seesaw game, DOS then managed to establish their own four-goal lead in the second half, only to see it disappear with another Nic fight back leaving the scores tied 16-16. Tight defence from both sides dominated the final stages of the match. With scores tied at 20-20, DOS ’46 scored the decisive goal and held on with more strong defence for a 21-20 win.
DOS ’46 1 was out for revenge against KVA, whom they surprisingly lost to in the reverse game last year. While not being as technically skilled, KVA are fighters and built an early four-goal lead. After this the defence from the home team began to dominate and technical superiority in the attack allowed a lead to slowly build for DOS ’46. This attacking skill was proven by the goals being shared around, five players scoring five or more doelpunten with brothers Sven and Jelmer Jonker topping the score sheet with six each. Final score 31-21. Unfortunately the last mathematical chance to make the playoffs disappeared as SKF, whom DOS ’46 defeated last week, won their match to be five points ahead with only two games left.
DOS A1 also suffered disappointed, being defeated in their top of the table clash 22-20. This means they must win against KCC next week to secure their spot in the semi-finals.
To top the week off, today was also the final DOS KIDs for this round. The feedback on the programme has been glowing. It would be great if we could set up something similar in NZ to help develop younger players in the sport!
Next week it is off to Belgium to infiltrate the korfball community there for a week and no doubt sample some Belgian cuisine and beer!
Ik vond het wel lekker gaan eigenlijk!
Lorenzo