The CULT - Grand Final Review

"dun dun dun dun, dun dun dun, dun dun dun; dun dun dun, dun dun dun, dun dun. bada-bum, bum bum, bum bada-bum bum; dun dun dun dun, dun dun dun, dun dun dun."

And so it was that with the overtures from Star Wars playing gently on the wind, The Cairns Ultimate League (on) Tuesdays drew its first season to a close.

Congratulations to The Empire Strikes Backhand for their ruthless pursuit of the title; The Dark Lord himself, Liam Gillions, marshaled his troops to an 11-8 victory over Apocalypse Meow and clinched an unbeaten season.

The grand final game was like something lifted from George Lucas' playbook; it brought us a cliff hanger ending and left us all wondering "will the Rebel Alliance come back and destroy the Deathstar?" "Will Luke have his cut off hand replaced with a better, robot, hand?" "is it really OK that that dude just kissed his sister?"

Of course, in this situation, Luke Skywalker was played by a drunk Martin Sheen and Obi wan was a fat, crazy Marlon Brando, but the special effects were every bit as good as the original!

Skills wise, the level of this one was very high; uber-tight points led to some fairly tetchy moments and a few pedantic calls and some *really* long breaks before the huck helped to build tension; but perhaps the biggest tell tale of just how close to the wire this one ran was the fact that two of Empire's new recruits were sidelined for the better part of the game. Talking to some of the stormtroopers afterwards, no-one seemed to know quite why this was the case, but it was baffling to me and no doubt frustrating for them. After all, winning a grand final you didn't get to play in doesn't leave you with the same feeling of elation it would do if you actually got to play.

Overall, it was a well fought final battle, but not one where SOTG reigned and not one where Ulti was promoted as being "more than a game ... its a lifestyle."

The 3-4 playoff was no less hotly contested as Boomstick pulled out all the stops in trying to get their first win of the season. Sadly (for this journalist), it was not to be; with The (absolutely) Incredible Huck taking it with an 8-5 victory. Although Boomstick managed to contain the early run that Huck has managed to start with in previous games, the Green Machine kept wearing the deadites down until they set up a handy lead. With mere minutes to go, Boomstick managed to clinch two key points, but it wasn't enough to secure the game. On a personal note, I was completely stoked that rookie Ash Batterham, who scored Boomstick's first point ever, also scored our final point for the season. That's symmetry kids!

There is something about Huck/Boomstick games that never ceases to amaze me - it seems like both teams lift and the competitive juices flow like vitticulture byproduct from Bacchus' cornucopia ... which brings us to the dummy spit. Anthony Hwaha ... one of the best spirited players in Cairns Ulti: you sir, spat the dummy like it has never been spat before (and coming from me, this means something!). I don't bring this up to embarrass Anthony, but rather to highlight the way that, moments after 'the incident', both players were able to stop, talk, apologise and get on with the game; now that's good spirit!

To finish, I want to speak as president, not as a blogger: Thanks to everyone who has made this possible. To Anthony, who took the job of treasurer on (something I could never do); to all the captains for their support, ideas and guidance; to the stalwart players who have come with us from the park to our league and finally to everyone who has given our sport a go for the first time this season; sure hope you come back next year!

The CULT - Semifinal Preview

Hold on you your hats kids, 'cause this week is going to be a big one. Both games (probably) have foregone conclusions, but underdogs can still bite and the two top ranked teams had better be ready for a scrap!

Game 1: Huck versus Meow

I think most people would expect this one to go to Meow, and I agree that it likely will, but I don't for a second think that this one is going to be a walk over. Huck's intensity (especially in the first 30 minutes of a game) is always dangerous and it will be up to Meow to stay focussed, move the disc around the field, and tire the Green Machine out. This is definitely a game of exploiting weaknesses and if Meow pick Huck apart, they will romp home.

Conversely, it is going to be up to Huck to shore up their weaknesses with judicious substitutions to make sure the intensity doesn't wane. Huck are probably the only team with the height to take it to Cephas in the endzone and they need to make certain that they rotate their big men to cut him out as an option.

Game 2: Empire versus Boomstick

After a 15-1 drubbing last time, Empire have got to be confident coming into this one. With Sweet Harriet Booth coming back from her sojourn with the Australian wilderness, Empire have a glut of handy handlers and ready receivers all primed to bring it to the Deadites. Having said that, the last time the top and bottom of the table came together, it was more competitive than the scoreline suggested. The only question now is: Have the Deadites learned to catch the ones that count?

Unusually, this one is probably going to go down as a strategy scmategy game, with both teams doing whatever feels right on the night. Will Jacob be fit to play? If not, what will Liam choose to do? Find another reciever, or hit the endzone himself? Anything is possible in this one, so make a point of staying behind to see it happen!

Don't forget: I'm raffling off a sweet PRIMAL disc in support of Movember and this is your penultimate chance to get tickets!

See you on the pitch, Ed

The CULT - Week 6 "Real" Review

OK, ok ... another big week has come and gone and we are looking down the barrel of our first finals series ever!

Game 1 was a case of dejavu all over again! Huck and Boomstick lined up for another tug of war matchup. Despite a full length layout by yours truly on the first point to try and take control of the tempo, Huck came out super athletically and ran to a 4-1 lead. With the pressure building, Boomstick clawed their way back to bring things back into contention and leveled the scores at 5all. The back and forth continued with Huck ahead 7-6 when the 45 minute time cap was reached and so it was that overtime commenced. With a minute to go, Boomstick were up 10-9 but Huck scored to level things up. A dropped pass on the line put the disc back in the deadites' eager hands, but that same enthusiasm saw the disc sail out of play, giving it to Huck when the Universe Point Rule came into effect. As Huck brought the disc into play, an unlikely deep reciever took off, building speed as he reached the endzone, catching his exhausted defender unawares. One desperate chase later, the plastic dropped into the Huckster's waiting hands. It was over and Huck took the second double overtime victory this season. This one went down to the wire and was very hotly contested. Easily the most valuable thing was that despite some tense moments, spirit won out in the end and all players left, smiling about the game that was, and the game that could have been.

Special mention should go out to Michelle who, as the only girl on Huck, played almost every point! Going to be a very interesting finals series for all concerned, I reckon!

Game 2 was, as expected, red hot. With Jay (somewhat amazingly) coming out to lead his team, it was a genuine contest between the two top placed teams. End-zone battles flared and in the end, it was the introduction of newcomer Niel Teale who made the difference for Empire. As we have come to expect, the Stormtroopettes, Katie and Krystal were impressive in the middle, cutting to the open spaces and looking for the plastic. Jason Dent found the endzone a number of times off some sweet Nick Murray passes and the Jacob/Wetnose combination paid dividends (as expected). Unfortunately for Jacob, a big fall (and dislocated shoulder) in the endzone brought his night to an end early and it will be a case of 'time will tell' regarding his availability for Tuesday night.

For the Apocalyptos, it was a case of sticking to what works. This is by far the most 'settled' team in the league, having kept the majority of its players start to finish (oh, wait, that's BoomStick too). Jay marshaled a solid offensive strategy, which mostly came up with the goods, but a few crucial drops under pressure cost them dearly! It was pleasing to see Piva slightly more mobile, using her speed to create opportunity and playing a role that is running to her strengths (i.e. running). Cephas played a good endzone game, as did Tyler who has really learned what it means to cut to the corners. Frustrating for Meow handlers was the amount of endzone traffic they had to contend with, making throws difficult to time. Communication is definitely key for all teams in this regard and it is going to be an area of growth next season for cutters to time their runs and clear out if the throw isn't there for them.

Next week is the semi final, with Meow playing Huck at 6pm (ignore the schedule, we changed it out of necessity!!!) and Empire playing Boomstick at 7pm. The beauty of our current organisation is that all four teams are still fighting for a spot in the grand final ... tres excitement!

Don't forget to bring your money for the Primal disc raffle ... $2 a ticket or $10 for 6!

The CULT - Week 6 Review

Wow! Is it really the last week of our regular inaugural season? un-freaking-believable!

Week 6 is, as always, going to be a big one. Both games are going to be 'grudge matches' this week, with Meow looking to upset the rampaging Empire and Boomstick looking to take the win they failed to achieve last time they squared off against the hydra-like Huck.

Game 1 The Incredible Huck versus Boomstick

Hydra-like seems fitting for the green machine in that they have never actually had the same playing roster for two consecutive games. More than that, they seem to constantly be on the brink of player collapse, only to see 2, 3 or 4 new players turn up to swing their fortunes.

From all accounts however, they seem to have settled on a solid list of 8 players thanks to a serious recruitment drive and we're all just going to have to hold our breath to see if they can retain them until the finals.

After the tightest game in CULT history last time these two teams met, its got me jittery thinking about tomorrow night's bottom of the table clash! After thier drubbing at the hands of the Evil Empire last week, Boomstick need to beat the Incredibles by a whopping 9 points to move from the bottom of the ladder, so its going to be a case of strike hard, strike early for the deadites; if they let Huck get out to the 4 point lead they did last time 'round, its all over. The problem, of course, is that Huck are hard starters ... the first 15-20 minutes of any Huck game this season have been explosive. Certainly, you can expect to see the deadites moving the plastic around the field in an effort to drain the momentum from the Huck offense.

As for Huck? Who can tell what they'll do. If they're smart, they'll stick to their gameplan from last week, playing a zone offense to minimise the amount of running they have to do early in the piece.

Paramount for both teams is going to be discipline. The side that can reign in their emotions and stick to a gameplan will pull of the win. Who will it be? Only time will tell.

My Prediction - Boomstick 11-10

Game 2 Meow versus Empire

This is the game we've been waiting for since week 3. Last time these two juggernauts met, it was a seriously under-strength Meow that tried to stick it to a full compliment of Storm Troopers. This week, players on both sides wait with baited breath to see whether the grizzled old man of strategy will bring his progeny down to the fields to watch daddy stick it to the man. If Ricardo takes the field, expect to see a real backwards and forwards game. Both teams have strong handler-deep combos and if it goes to a huckfest, its going to be a long night for everyone. Personally, I think the game will be won and lost by the defensive marking. If teams can get their defense to shut down the primaries, it comes down to a battle of the middles. Meow have significantly more experience in the middle of the pack, but The Empire have some good middles of their own. Particularly impressive in the last two weeks have been their new women, who have consistently cut into open space, burning defenders with regularity.

Ultimately, this one is going to come down to leadership and communication. Both teams have the potential to take the win, but it is going to be a clear case of maximising that potential and adapting quickly to changes as they occur.

My Prediction - Empire 9-8

Finally:

This week and next, I will be raffling off a brand new PRIMAL disc this week to raise funds for Movember. Primal are an Ultimate club from Perth and this disc is an inexact* replica of the one Brodie Smith used last week to break the world record for the longest huck in Australia's history! Moulded in sweet white plastic and hot-stamped with metallic blue foil, this baby is a beauty! Raffle tickets will be $2 each, or 6 for $10 so buy yourself a bunch and save!

If you would like to grab a fistful of tickets, or donate to my movember fundraising, see me tomorrow night and I'll happily take your money (or give you a link to donate online).

*completely inexact. The only real similarity is that they are both frisbees.

The CULT - Week 5 Review

Ok, here is the wind up of the first games of the back end of the season (and we all know how much Liam loves the back end).

Game 1 Boomstick -vs- Empire.
At 15-1 for The Evil Empire, this one was a stone cold schooling. In fact, it was only Kat's epic point that stopped it being a total wipeout.

Empire, typically, played with control; moving the disc well between their primaries and finding their deeps regularly. Especially worthy of note was the significant improvement in Jacob's game after Big Sky 11 and the Firestarter development clinic last weekend. Everyone who ever played a tournament knows that your level ups 70% right after ... best thing you'll ever do to elevate your game. Lurch was, without doubt, more desperate to get his oversized paws on the disc than we've seen him in a long time and his vertical leap seems to have improved also. If he can maintain this level of intensity, Empire will be hard to beat this season!

Other that the Wetnose-Lurch combination, Jason was dangerous in the endzone, cutting deep and wide to give his teammates options. Another pair of stars were the Skills 360 ladies, who were making all the right cuts (but still getting ignored). Krystal certainly laid her body on the line with a HARD endzone layout that came up short, but impressed everyone who saw it. Dedication like that is pure gold!

Boomstick played a predictably solid game and their workups meant that they were threatening the endzone regularly. Unfortunately, they suffered from their trademark slippery fingers in the endzone and struggled to hold on to the plastic when it mattered most. Team captain 'Unlucky Eddie' had a couple of red faces moments when he passed directly into the waiting mitts of the Sniff Lord, but generally the deadites had a gameplan and stuck to it.

All concerned agreed that it didn't 'feel' like a 15-1 flogging and it will be interesting to see if Boomstick can keep the momentum going for their re-match against Huck next week.

Game 2 Huck vs Meow.
A perennially changing Huck surprised everyone when they not only fielded a full team this week, but actually had subs sitting on the sideline! With a clear zone offence in place, the tallest team in the league did a good job moving the plastic up the field and managed to score some early points. It was gratifying to see Jamie finally playing the position Jesus intended when he stretched him tall and skinny! Speaking of tall and skinny, barefoot bohemian 'Stretchy' Pete saw a lot of endzone action - his hyper-simian reach more than making up for the trouble he had reading the disc in flight. New recruit (and former Ultimate nay-sayer) Rohan ran like a terrier chasing a crestie on heat, cutting wildly and often before putting in some solid backhands to help offset the inevitable energy drop that has plagued Huck since day 1. Michelle represented for the ladies and showed Huck's new female recruit the ropes in style; excellent sideline leadership and support!

Ultimately, Huck faded. The uber high intensity they started with dropped off and a patient Meow pounced. Handler-cutter combos were, as expected, slick and Cephas' freakability made up for his unwillingness to run. At times, Meow's handlers expressed frustration as their cutters struggled to cope with the height and reach of the Green boys - it was always going to be speed and maneuverability that won the day for them.

The final two points after the break noticeably saw Meow lift off the gas and Huck capitalised by scoring twice before the final hooter. Lifting off is one thing neither of these teams can afford next week as Empire look to consolidate their position on the top of the table and Boomstick look for a big win to drag themselves off the bottom of the ladder.

All in all, this was a high energy week of ulti and the C.U.L.T is really starting to shape up into a competitive league.

Finally, congratulations to Jay and Jasmine who welcomed their second child into the world last night - we can't wait to see Ricardo JR down at Windarra st soon!

The CULT - Week 5 Preview

Buggrit Millenium Hand and Shrimp!

So, looking for a blog post? Me too. There was one. But now its gone. Auto save, I hear you ask? Apparently not.

Here is the short version.

Game 1

Empire beats Boomstick, but the game is good spirited and well contested. 11-7

Game 2

Huck scramble and come up with new players. It isn't enough. Meow take it home 12-5. Everyone has a good time because spirit is high. New players come back next week.

The CULT - Week 4 Review

Well folks, another week has gone by and we saw another red hot week of Ultimate; the CULT is gaining more momentum than a freight train! If I could take a moment to apologise about the scheduling mix up last night - I'm just glad everyone turned up and got a game!

Game 1 - Empire versus Huck
To say that huck are getting better every week is, at best, an understatement; these guys are finally starting to find some continuity as a team and are playing some damn good ultimate. My only question is their choice of handlers. It seems to me that having your two 6 foot + players moving the disc around and having your shorties playing deep is not the best strategy to adopt if you're looking to pile on the points. Now, some might say that those aforementioned tall timber have some good throws (and they do) ... but so does their captain courageous - and he is not a man built to take screamers in the end zone.

Still, Huck acquitted themselves well against the league leaders and it will be interesting to see them continue to improve as the weeks go by.

It was a good-looking Huck that took the field on Tuesday (Nick Murray is always good-looking). Captian Liam Gillions tried to re-live his youth with the Cobras by abandoning his usual handling duties and hunting down the long huck in the endzone and led the field in a flurry of early scoring. Special mention must go to new recruits brought in from Skills 360 who played with an innate understanding of where to stand. In fact, one of these ladies put herself, wide open, in the end zone 3 times in one point ... but was thoroughly ignored by her handlers - eyes open boys; you had the opportunity to give a newbie her first points and you missed it!

Nevertheless, it was another comfortable and well-deserved win for the evil empire. By the way Wetnose ... Kim obviously received your phone calls - she's leaving the country early!

Game 2 - Meow versus Boomstick
So, it seems that a 1 and 1/2 warmup was a bit much for the deadites, they peaked slightly early (last time I tell them the wrong game time!).

Meow were, to put it bluntly, a hurricane to Boomstick's flatulence. The Apocalyptos rolled out a very quick 7 points and were looking to close out the half unblemished, when Boomstick finally worked out which end of the field to throw for. Half time for the Deadites saw The Rowebott having a stern word with his captain ... somethign along the lines of "you think you can throw length of the field, but you can't. Stop trying." Of course, the Rowebott is the world's nicest bad man, so he didnt put it quite like that, but somewhere, the advice got through the horse's head and Boomstick managed to pull back a few points by reverting to a more conservative (but effective) strategy of working the disc up the field patiently.

A few absolutely spectacular points by Meow kept them comfortably in front, but the deadite's gritty determination salvaged their pride in the second half, even though they couldn't salvage the game. The final siren went and it was 14-5, with Meow finishing the point in winning style and heralding the first 15 point game for the season.

A top couple of games of Ulti this week. Hope everyone is pumped for the weekend at JCU - I know I am!

The CULT - Week 4 Preview

Woah, where has the week gone? Its Tuesday again and all CULT members are gearing up for thier Tuesday fix. Hopefully, you haven't had too many withdrawals looking for your Week 4 Preview. This one is going to be short, because there just aint time.

Game 1 Meow vs Boomstick
It has to be said that here, on the back 9 of the round robin, pecking order has well an truly been established. After surprising Meow in their first game, Boomstick are looking to consolidate on the experience they have gained over the first half of the season. Conversely, Meow are going to be itchy for a big game after so many of their players were out last week.

What can you expect from this game? Meow is going to put on a demonstration of moving the disc around the field, frustrating the Boomstick defense. Boomstick will be sticking to what they know and putting stacks on wherever opportunity presents.

Its a Meow win - 12-5

Game 2 Huck vs Empire
So the question is, how will Empire deal with the influx of new Hucksters? I don't think any side is going to be caught quite as unawares as Boomstick were last week, but its still going to be a shock - especially in the early stages of the game. Ultimately, I think that experience will trump athleticism ... Huck will be hard pressed to keep the momentum going for the whole game and the experience handling combination of Liam and Nick will enjoy moving them around the park.

This one will be fun to watch, but the final score will be in Empire's favour to the tune of 15-4

The CULT - Week 3 Review

WOW! for those of you who were there, you know what I mean; for those of you who weren't, you missed one of the biggest and best nights in CULT history (That's right, all three weeks of it!).

Empire versus Meow

This is one game that was going to be BIG; either Empire would dominate against an under-strength Meow, OR the Apocalypse crew would find new ways to move the disc and bring it to the endzone.

Ultimately, what we saw was a clear case of too many offensive options overwhelming a solid game plan. Thanks to Jay for allowing me to reprint their gameplan here. The strategy revolved around neutralising scoring threat Liam by keeping him out of the game and forcing The Empire to rely on their other handlers - encouraging the long huck to the endzone where it would become a straight up contest in the endzone between Cephas and the intended receiver.

Unfortunately for Meow, taking Liam out still left a swag of handlers to do the necessary for the Empire. Nick Murray worked the disc up solidly and the stormtroopers gave him virtually unlimited options with their cuts ... meaning that Jay had to abandon plan A and scramble. Ultimately, The Empire just had too many options and finished the game 11-2, leaving them clearly in first place for the league.

credit where credit is due though, Meow worked through the pain of having so many players out and were still bringing it to the Empire right to the final hooter. I for one can't wait to see the rematch of this one, hopefully with both teams bringing a full strength roster to the party.

Boomstick -vs- Huck

Now, I'm not saying there wont be other great games this season, but Boomstick versus Huck was EPIC! This one was, without questions, one of the greatest games I have ever played in and I know that both sides are looking forward to a re-match in 3 weeks time.

Completely out of left field, huck dredged up 3 new players and brought back their two new recruits from week 1, meaning that the Deadites (The neanderthals in the Evil dead movies were called deadites ... Boomstick take thier name from this series) were facing up to an entirely unknown quantity. So it was that they were taken entirely unawares by Huck in the opening minutes, with the score rapidly mounting to 3-0 in favour of the green machine. After recovering from thier shell shock, the Red Devils stepped up thier defence and scored 3 unanswered points of thier own, tying it up.

It seemed like the game see-sawed constantly, with neither team being able to cement a clear lead and it was with 3minutes to go that halftime was called, Boomstick leading 8-7. League policy requires a "must win by 2" result and a 15minute overtime began with Huck bringing the scores level. Spirits (although perhaps not 'spirit') were high one both sides and chances to wrap the game up were squandered by both teams as players 'panic hucked' for the endzone, only to find no-one was home to receive.

When the overtime hooter sounded, it was locked up at 10-10, and the Universe Point rule came into effect with Huck in possession. All Boomstick had to do was force the turnover and they were still in with a chance. All Huck had to do was hold the disc and wait for their opportunity.

Defence was tight and it was on a high stall count that the handler released a Hail Mary into the end zone, flying ugly and curving to the left. The Boomstick defender read it right, but so did the receiver and the man in blue ran out of legs ... it was a Huck victory and no-one could say they hadn't earned it.

I've said it before: Its the close ones you kick yourself over, but its the really close ones you look back on and smile about.

Thanks for an awesome game Huck ... you really were incredible.

CULT - Week 3 preview

Weeeeeeel, I'm back. Having said that, there have been a few raised eyebrows regarding my strategic analysis of various teams in my previews ... so I've invited a friend of mine to do the analysis for me. The interview format makes a slight change for our regular readers, but you know what they say: A change is as good as a South Korean Chinese massage at the Night Markets.

Mr Ed: Welcome to our weekly preview everyone. I'd like to introduce our guest Captain Obvious. Captian Obvious is a keen observer of life, but only ever responds with obvious observations. No in-depth analysis for him, no sir! Oh, and he sometimes speaks Spanish. Good morning Captain!

CO: Buenos Dias singior.

ME: So, tell us how you think the first game will go down

CO: Are you stupid, Meeester Ed? It is obvious!

ME: Please, go on.

CO: Empire Strikes Backhand will win.

ME: OK ... but Meow have been so dominant in the last few weeks, please explain?

CO: Aye Carumba! With so many players out, what else can be the result?

ME: Well hang on, who's out from Meow?

CO: Obviously, Alecha, Tyler and Dylan all have the Bentley Park Sports award night and Cooper has ... how do you say? The Interview for the job. Oh, and Ryan has had his shoulder torn off by wild lions.

ME: Wild LIONS? Are you sure?

CO: Kehpasa! You want me to know everything? Maybe lions, maybe a motorbike injury ... who knows?

ME: Wow, that is a problem. So, what do you think Meow is going to do without such key players?

CO: Bailey and Jay will, of course, be a force to be reckoned with and they still have some quality cutters. It goes without saying they will work it up the middle ... as you say ... "Dump - Swing - Dump - Swing".

ME: And if all else fails, Bailey has the Elder Wand ... he could magic the win.

CO: Non! That joke was stupid last week and it is even more stupid this week. It is cest ridiculous!

ME: You know what's ridiculous cap? The fact that you're suddenly speaking French!

[silence]

CO: Not my fault. I'm your fictional character.

ME: Ixnay on the fictional-characteray!

CO: Sorry. I forgot. I am a real person. I have always been a real person. I will always be a real person! These are not the droids you are looking for!

ME: These are not the ... HEY! Anyway, tell me about Empire. What's their plan?

CO: Plan? They don't have one. Liam Hucking to Jacob isn't a plan.

ME: Anything else?

CO: Well, there's always the new guy ... he's coming along nicely.

ME: He is, I agree. But what happens if Liam or Jacob get injured?

CO: Not a problem. Nick Murray has a right wrist of steel ... that bad boy has been 'conditioned' for many, many years. He's been saying for years "It's all about technique".

ME: I see ...

CO: Anything else you want to know?

ME: Well, I suppose a score prediction?

CO: 10-7 ... to Empire. Anyone who thinks either of these sides is playing Mizair is an idiot.

The CULT - Week 2 Review

Holey Moley Tuesday was a wet one! With driving rain and squally winds buffeting both players and the disc, it was a mammoth task for all concerned to keep their eye on the game (much worse for contact lens wearers!) and their minds off the warm showers and hot chocolate that home provided them. It just goes to show how hardcore Ulti players are that we got such a good turn out when people from other sporting codes kept telling me "We'd never play in this weather!"

Having watched both games this week (damn you injured hand!), I was really impressed to see the level of ulti being played in such tough conditions.

Huck -vs- Meow
Resplendent in their new green strip, Huck's biggest problem was finding enough players to wear them! The rain was surely a dampener for their new recruits (someone tell those ladies there is now such a thing as waterproof mascara!), but playing savage in such savage conditions was a tall order ... especially against Meow, who had a line of subs stretching as far as the eye could see. Fortunately, general tallness is something that Huck have in spades (especially with the addition of Stretchy Pete, who raised the average height by about 2") and they manfully rose to the challenge. League rules dictate that, "should a team be able to field the minimum number of players, they may not enlist substitutes", which meant that the big men had to slog it out on their own. Tactically, Huck's major failing was not taking advantage of the Jamie-Pete endzone combo ... a combined 14 feet of receivers, both of whom are highly athletic, should have been receiving big Hucks into the corners. In my (never very humble) opinion, Jamie was wasted handling the disc. I know he can throw, but the good Lord made him big for one reason ... to Sky shorties!

Meow were, as we have come to expect, drilled, disciplined and fast; their handlers made strong use of backhand passes to avoid 'slippery fingers syndrome' and their cutters were just too fast, even for the lanky green machine.

The final score of 9-2 was telling, as Meow found a rhythm and never looked back. Overall, I think that Huck did well to hold up as well as they did to the Apocalyptic onslaught that Meow threw at them ... I can only hope that the resultant gamma rays beef up their lineup in preparation for their clash with the rapidly improving Boomstick next week. As for the AM crew? Their 2-0 roll is, no doubt, fueling their confidence leading into their round three slugfest against the equally dominant Empire. The for-against balance is still in Meow's favour, but its a close run thing.

Empire -vs- Boomstick

Loving the NQ weather, new migrant Liam Gillions took every opportunity to wet his nose by laying out constantly into the soft, wet ground. My question (directed squarely at Matt Ryan and Ryan Black), is "how can you not love a guy who is willing to layout for the T/O with three minutes to go when his team is 5 points up?"

As for the rest of the game? How would I know what happened? I was huddled under my insufficient umbrealla-ella-ella ey'o wishing I could retreat to the clubhouse! Seriously though, this was a more tightly contested game than the 11-5 scoreboard indicated. Empire scored their points in flurries, with protracted back and forward turnovers in between. Their scoring opportunities seemed to primarily come off the back of Wetnose's big defensive efforts or when Boomstick lost focus.

At the risk of blowing wind up my own kilt, it was clear that the deadites suffered from a lack of on-field leadership this week. Brent did a stellar job of handling in only his second week of ulti, but a lack of direction meant that he was often left without a dump option and trying to throw through traffic as Empire's seasoned veterans poached at will on the inexperienced 'stickers. Stuart Craig was, as always, a champion in defence and Shaun really stepped up to take a leadership role in the latter stages of the game - deciding that throwing it a long way away was better than easy poaches in spitting distance of our end zone*. Next week is going to be a big one for Boomstick; they are improving every week, but they are going to have to be disciplined if they are going to topple the tall timber of Huck.

As for Empire, expect them to have a very clear game plan going into their titanic clash against Meow. The Liam-Jacob connection is working well and their sole new recruit (whose name escapes me temporarily) is finding confidence with every point he scores and every hand-block he makes. The Evil Empire are really starting to gel as a team and it is going to be very interesting to watch their progress as they hit their straps. Of all the teams in the league, I think it is Empire who have the capacity to explode in terms of teamwork and fluency. Is it enough to topple the juggernaut that is Apocalypse Meow? You know what? I think it might just be.

With lightning forcing the game to a premature end and the lack of a Duckworth-Lewis system for Ultimate, Boomstick are willing to be gracious and offer Empire a gentleman's draw. If we had played that last three minutes, we are quietly confident of a comeback victory.

Hello? Empire? Don't worry ... we'll wait for you to get back to us then?

Until next week folks, Mr Ed out.


*Cairns Ultimate Disc does not condone spitting at endzones. Endzones have feelings too and should be afforded the same respect we all expect.

The CULT - Week 2 Preview

OK folks, the second installment of our CULT blog; it'll be a short one, as typing one-handed isn't really my thing.

Game 1: 6pm
The Incredible Huck vs Apocalypse Meow

Well, after a shaky start last week, Huck will be looking to put on a big performance against the well-drilled Meow. The three strong leadership team for the green machine need to get their collective heads together and formulate a strategy that will neutralize Meow's offence, while using thier considerable height advantage to pick up points where they can. Probably the biggest challenge for huck will be dealing with the fast cutting of the young and fit meow. If it were me planning a defensive strategy, I'd be playing Jamie and Pete in assassination Defense on Jay and Alecha respectively and have Stuart or Jeff stick like white on rice to Bailey.

No doubt buoyed by their weekend in T'ville, Meow stalwarts Alecha "the woman" Piva, Bailey the Elder Wand and the old man of strategy will all be looking to put the stamp on this game, right from the opening hooter. Although they may struggle with the height difference, expect to see Meow hogging the passing lanes in defence and poaching if ever Huck slow down. This is a fast team who will look to push the pace early.


Mr Ed's prediction: Huck will own the high game, but they won't be able to match the speed and discipline of a focussed Meow ... Meow to take the win 12-5

Game 2, 7pm
Boomstick vs The Empire Strikes Backhand

Last week's surprise package, Boomstick are quietly confident of another good showing this week, despite the loss of their captain. The key to their strategy is, unsurprisingly, speed as this was one area Empire struggled with last week. The ever-dependable Shaun returns to the fold after some high-altitude training in the Canadian Rockies this and he is definitely a player to watch in the midfield. Look for short cuts to prevent wet-weather spillage and a defense focussed on owning the endzone.

Key to Empire's strategy will, unsurprisingly, be the Wetnose-Lurch combination again. Can they manage to hold the disc despite the wet conditions? Only time will tell. Expect a cautious approach from the Empire; they will be looking to score safely - Wetnose is too experienced to huck it into the eye of the storm.

Mr Ed's prediction: It'll be messy, but I'm tipping Empire to win 15-6.

And that's it from me ... look to see the week in review after this soggy, soggy night of ulti!

High Spirits - Playing Ultimate the way it is meant to be played!

Excerpts from the Official Rules of Ultimate: 11th Edition

"The integrity of Ultimate depends on each player's responsibility to uphold the Spirit of the Game, and this responsibility should remain paramount."

"... Ultimate relies upon a spirit of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate unsportsmanlike conduct from the Ultimate field. ... intentional infractions, or other 'win-at-all-costs' behavior are contrary to the Spirit of the Game and must be avoided by all players."

Disclaimer: Much of my article has been reproduced from another article written by the UPA Executive Committee. Text in black is a reproduction of this original article, text in blue represents my thoughts and reflections. I have, at times, edited or abridged the original and have done so without permission or consultation. The full, original article can be found at http://www.usaultimate.org/about/ultimate/spirit_of_the_game.aspx

Spirit of the Game sets Ultimate apart from other competitive team sports. For over 30 years, Ultimate has flourished, reaching a highly competitive level, without the use of referees. In Ultimate, the honor system works. Sure, human nature rears its ugly head from time to time - just as in any sport, just as in life. Yet, one of the many beauties of Ultimate is how, even amid the most difficult of situations, utmost graciousness is allowed to meet that challenge head on.

I am a frisbee nerd; I love playing, watching and talking Ultimate. As a result, I've watched hundreds of hours of YouTube videos, shaky hand-held game footage and I subscribe to the Elite Team Partnerships series on UltiVillage (that's right ... I pay to watch Ultimate online). Funny thing is, even at this elite level, even when people are representing their country, you regularly see players saying "I fouled you, I'm sorry."; you regularly see people saying "That hit the ground before I caught it." and you routinely see players and captains talking calmly and working out their disagreements in a mature, and above all, good-natured way. These are elite level athletes, playing at the top level the sport offers and they aren't looking to 'bend the rules' or take advantage of a situation ... despite training for years for that particular game, they still see good spirit as being more important than getting the W.

Most Ultimate players care deeply about Spirit of the Game. The ... challenge for ... Ultimate is to foster an environment where the challenge does not become,"to see what I can get away with". Rather than dictate (or try and police) what Spirit of the Game is or should be, it is up to each player to do so for him or herself within the context of the teams he or she plays with and against. To help all of us gain a better understanding of what spirit is, check out the list below.

Ten Things You Should Know About Spirit of the Game™

1. The golden rule: treat others as you would want to be treated.

Spirited games result from mutual respect among opponents. Assume the best of your opponent. Give him or her the benefit of a doubt. You would want the same for yourself. But if you are thick-skinned, do not assume that your opponent is. Maybe you should think of this rule as, "treat others as you would have them treat your mother."

I personally define this one as the "No Jerk Policy." Don't be one, and every

2. Control: SOTG takes real effort.

SOTG is not just some abstract principle that everyone adopts and then games run smoothly without effort. Close calls are made in tight games. Hard fouls are committed. SOTG is about how you handle yourself under pressure: how you contain your emotionality, tame your temper, and modulate your voice. If you initiate or contribute to the unraveling of spirit, the concept falls apart quickly. If you act to mend things (or at least not exacerbate the situation) by following (1) above, the game heals itself.

Walk away, cool down. Even if it means you drop a crucial point, or the opposition 'gets away with' something unspirited or dodgy. At all times, take the moral high ground and the integrity of the game is maintained. If there is one person who is consistently poor-spirited, see your captain and let them talk to the League Director ... don't engage in 'aggro'; too often this results in a game no-one has enjoyed.

3. Heckling and taunting are different.

Ultimate has a long tradition of good-natured heckling. Heckles are friendly barbs, typically from non-playing spectators. Heckling can be fun, but taunting is unspirited and wrong. Harassing remarks after an opponent's foul call or close play are NOT heckling: they are abusive taunts which create unpleasant playing conditions and often escalate to acrimonious disputes.

Be sure that all 'banter' is good natured and that both parties are enjoying it ... if, at any point, it stops being fun for all concerned, stop. Apologise. Move on.

4. SOTG is compatible with [competitive or intense] play.

It is a fallacy to argue that the stakes are so important that some aspect of SOTG can be cast aside. Time and again, great teams and star players have shown that you can bring all your competitive and athletic zeal to a game without sacrificing fair play or respect for your opponent.

5. Don't "give as you got."

There is no "eye for an eye." If you are wronged, you have no right to wrong someone in return. In the extreme case where you were severely mistreated, you may bring the issue up with a captain, tournament director, or even lodge a complaint with the governing body. If you retaliate in kind, however, a complaint may be filed against you. We recall point (1): treat others as you would have them treat you, not as they have treated you. In the end, you are responsible for you.

6. Breathe.

After a hard foul, close call, or disputed play, take a step back, pause, and take a deep breath. In the heat of competition, emotions run high. By giving yourself just a bit of time and space, you will gain enough perspective to compose yourself and concentrate on the facts involved in the dispute (was she in or out; did you hit his hand or the disc; did that pick affect the play). Your restraint will induce a more restrained response from your opponent. Conflagration averted, you may resume business as usual.

7. When you do the right thing, people notice.

When you turn the other cheek, you know you've done the right thing. You may not hear praise, there may be no standing ovation, but people do notice. Eventually, their respect for you and their appreciation of the game will grow.

8. Be generous with praise.

Compliment an opponent on her good catch. Remark to a teammate that you admire his honesty in calling himself out of bounds. Look players in the eye and congratulate them when you shake their hands after a game. These small acts boost spirit greatly, a large payoff for little time and effort.

9. Impressions linger.

Not only does the realization that your actions will be remembered for a long time serve to curb poor behavior, it can also inspire better conduct. Many old-timers enjoy the experience of meeting an elite player who remembers their first rendezvous on the field and recalls the event in detail. A good first encounter with an impressionable young player can have considerable long term positive impact.

10. Have fun.

And that's it from me, folks. SOTG is the building block our sport is built on; it is the thing that sets it apart from all other sports and it is the thing that will attract people to play. If we don't preserve and promote spirit ... Ultimate will end up as 'niggly' and spiteful as touch football is today. (No offence touchies ... but I challenge you to show me a touch game where people don't niggle and no-one backchats the ref).

The CULT - Week 1 in Review

WARNING EXCESSIVE EXCLAMATION MARK USAGE AHEAD!!!!!!!

Dear reader, if you were there ... you know what's coming next; if you weren't there ... I feel genuinely sorry for you.

Despite a slow start with the fields and a dark endzone caused by malfunctioning lights, the inaugural gathering of the CULT of Frisbee went off like a frog in a sock! With 11 new players and TV coverage by two news outlets (watch WIN and 7 at 6pm tonight), we're set for big things!

Game 1: 6pm (nominally, at least)
Huck -vs- Empire

With an eventual scoreline 0f 11-3, this was a definite tug-of-war game. Due to media commitments, this plucky blogger wasn't able to see much of the actual game, but there was a definite sense of greater organisation overcoming physical prowess. The Incredible Huck will definitely be looking to rally next week and it will be up to the leadership team to provide some strong on-field direction for a team who definitely has the physical attributes to go all the way. I'm putting this one down to first night jitters. Well done to the Evil Empire - are you ready for your Week 2 clash against the team with everything to gain? We'll see.

I have also been asked to make special mention of Huck's three new players who, in their first game, performed well, putting out some stellar defense. I know that we all look forward to seeing these new players develop!

Game 2: 7pm (ish)
Apocalypse -vs- Boomstick

I think it is probably fair to say that no-one saw this game unfolding the way it did and a source close to the team tells me that the look on Jay's face when the Deadites scored in the opening 20 seconds was "Priceless".

The game saw a composed and disciplined Apocalypse playing a solid strategy of working it through the handlers and looking for open cutters. It was textbook Ultimate and it worked. On the other hand, Boomstick were, if I say so myself, tenacious in a defensive strategy that was visibly frustrating the Apocalypse recievers (especially Stuart who saved a couple of really big points with layout D).

The halftime saw Apocalypse pull away to a decent 8-3 lead and they started to mix up their offensive strategy. Some aggressive cuts into the endzone saw them pull away still further until Boomstick managed to claw thier back to a 12-7 scoreline when the final hooter rang. In the final point, Boomstick were desperate to keep themselves in the hunt (Must win by 2), but were quickly put away by a disciplined Meow.

What can we expect next week? All I can say is stay tuned ... 'cause its going to be massive!

The CULT - Week 1 Preview

Wondering about the title? You should be. JDR decided that our league should be called the "Cairns Ultimate League, Thanks", purely so that we could be called "The CULT". After slight modification to The "Cairns Ultimate League (on) Tuesdays", we're away!

So anyway, about the Week 1 preview. I don't think I'll ever be the journalist Mr Sparkles is (Townsville Ultimate Blog), but I'll do my best unless someone else wants the job.

This week is really going to set the standard for the CULT and I'm pumped to see all four teams bringing their "A-Game". There will be a proverbial sifting of the wheat from the chaff as teams strive for the early phychological advantage and early-season bragging rights.

Game 1: 6pm
The Incredible Huck vs The Empire Strikes Backhand

This is no doubt going to be a close game and to say that it could go either way is a no-brainer. I think that the real question is whether either team is going to field a full-strength side this week.

Empire has an extremely strong experience base, centered around captain Liam Gillions, but a mix of somewhat erratic International talent and players traveling from as far away as Mareeba and Kuranda means that this guys need to make sure they are getting some ill communication on and representing each week. What can we expect to see from Empire this week? Big Hucks and Long cuts, with Wetnose looking to find Jacob and Jason D in the endzone.

On the other hand, the team formerly known as "RIP Incredibly Phony Katy Hucks Discy Business" have the potential for some extreme 'freakability' in terms of sheer height and physical prowess. I think the real question with this team is whether Jeff and Jamie can convince their players to dispense of personal displays of athleticism and work as a team. If they don't; I think that Liam's superior strategy will edge them out in the later stages of the game.

Mr Ed's prediction: Despite a mid-game comeback ... Empire to take the win 15-11

Game 2, 7pm
Boomstick vs Apocalypse Meow

With nought but enthusiasm on their side, nobody is going to be betting heavily on Boomstick to win this one. With two thirds of the Cairns representative squad coming out to play for Apocalypse, they are understandably confident coming up against a team where only two players actually know what the game is about.

Having said that, here are the breakdowns:

Oozing with well deserved confidence, expect to see the 'old man of strategy' trying out a series of bizzare set plays (often followed by a wry "Sorry team"). Key offensive combinations will be Jay as primary handler offloading to Alecha or Suttsie Quattro. With his speed, look to see Dylan making razor sharp cuts before dumping to Jay and Alecha. Expect to see new recruit Cephas Chinfat heading deep into the endzone where his height and reach will stymie all but the most determined Boomstick Defenders. The key to putting egg on the face of this experienced and talented team? Shut down the handlers and make Jay throw long.

So, what of Boomstick? Are they really ready to be relegated to the league's whipping boys? I say "Nay". With a strong experience base in a range of other sports, there will be a certain 'settling in time' ... but expect Boomstick to improve rapidly as players transfer their fitness and innate sporting understanding into cold hard points. What to look for this week? Short cuts, lots of dumps and dogged determination.

Mr Ed's prediction: Experience will out ... Apocalypse to win 15-4.

And that's it from me ... look to see the week in review after the inaugural game on Tuesday.

Flights for QLD HAT

Hi again, just a quick reminder that the QLD HAT is fast approaching and that QUDA is willing to sponsor up to 4 Cairns players to attend (1/2 cost of flights, no tournament fees AND billeting!!!!).

If you're interested, please let me know ASAP and check out these flights (please don't book 'till you've seen me!)

http://edm.qantas.net.au/cts/click?q=27%3B128038%3BOFN%2BvC1CY1Q5IBDGKywEzQ%3D%3D

The first pod is away!

Hi folks, this is the first post in the Cairns Ultimate Disc Blog. Once the season starts, this will be used for rankings and week-by-week previews and reviews of our league. If we can see a bit of BUML-DOJO parody then that'd be awesome!