| Sports Update |
| Thursday, 15 December 2011 12:42 |
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"the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not the winning, but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering, but fighting well" Pierre de Coubertin "Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. " -William A. Ward
Wednesday 30th November British Colleges Sport SW Rugby 10’s Competition @ Truro College
The second game gave the team a chance of redemption, and with a strong showing they claimed a win against Cornwall College with tries from Dave Hogan amongst others, the third game saw the team play a highly fancied Exeter side and despite a good performance Exeter came away with the win. Overall a good experience for the players and team a good learning curve in their rugby development and for the coaching team. Coaches Colin Stewart & Gary Stephens Squad Z Grayling, M Meech, J Bolton, S Poustie, D Shilabeer, L Veale, D Thomson, M Rowlands, D Hogan, C Armstrong, L Smith, A Murch, T Page, D Alberici, J Brierly Wednesday 30th November British Colleges Sport SW Basketball Competition @ Filton College
The defeat to Huish would prove decisive as this meant that the team were drawn against Filton College in the semi finals the tournament, Filton past winners and competition favourites due to the size & strength of their basketball academy and being on home court would prove a litmus test of South Devon’s standing in South West College basketball. Devon started the game on fire with hall & Culley rising to the occasion, Hall hit a three and Culley was running the game and scored points at the basket to take Devon to a 5 – 0 lead. Filton rattled were being forced into mistakes as Devon’s high intensity pressure game paid dividends. Filton put points on the board to close the game, but Devon hit back through Culley again for 7 – 2, Filton took the opportunity to time out an indication that they were out of their comfort zone. Coach Hatchell praised his team, but emphasised the need to continue in the same manner. Filton upped their performance to score quick points to level the scores, before Devon missed an easy 2 points and then coughed up possession to gift Filton to a 9 – 7 lead. Filton with momentum started to pressure Devon’s defence and extended their lead to leave Devon chasing the game, Culley continued to trouble Filton bringing the full range of his game, dictating on the offence, hitting shots from distance and dominating at the boards, Hall assisted ably and Noble was strong in defence, but Filton proved too strong all round to take the game 22 – 14. A good experience for this fledgling Devon side and an insight into the level they need to get to.
Squad J Culley, T Hall, C Caton, B Hilborne, C Hutchins, J Noble, J Russell, S Flanders, M Cheesworth, J Westlake, J Dale
Coach
Wednesday 7th DecemberBritish Colleges Sport SW Basketball Cup R3
Jake Westlake opened the scoring from the Tip with 2 easy points and went on to score a total of 15 for the game. Tristan Hall put on a display of 3 point shooting in the opening qrt hitting 4 in succession and with Jordon Cully adding 15 points we finished the first qrt.38-13. From then on it was about giving players court time and developing and running our offence and defence better.
We are through to the next round of the cup and I am sure opposition will get harder ,so we have to focus on playing better 'D' and bench players need to get up to speed to have a positive input in the game. They need to work harder in training and know their roles.
The team played well and I am pleased with the result and with the performance of some of the players coming off the bench, James Russell and Cameron Caton and Ben Hilbourne all played a part in the win. James Noble played well without his "big Man" partner Sam Flanders who is absent through injury.
CoachGeorge HatchellSquad J Culley, M Cheeseworth, J Noble, J Russell, B Hilborne, C Hutchins, C Caton, T Hall, J Westlake Wednesday 7th December British Colleges Sport SW Football Cup R3 Weymouth College 2 South Devon College 2 (Weymouth win on Penalties) This was a hard defeat to take for South Devon, despite giving a great account of themselves and having a great start with a ‘wonder’ goal from Liam Northcott, plus a cool finish from Scott Troth to give Devon a 2 – 0 half time lead. The half time team talk emphasised the need to continue to work hard, retain possession and to not allow Weymouth back into the game, but two sloppy goals gave Weymouth a lifeline and took the game into extra time. Devon regained the initiative during the added time and despite good efforts from Dickinson & Newland, the game went all the way to penalties and in the lottery of a penalty shoot out Weymouth held their nerve the better to win the game and progress to the next round of the cup. A highly disappointing end to a game that started so well.
Coach Squad M Tarr, A George, G Routledge, N Warren, L Tapp, J Denning, B Garnett, S Newland, :L Northcott, S Troth, D Dickinson, P Shaw, R Pounds
Wednesday 7th DecemberBritish Colleges Sport SW Netball League South Devon started this game full of confidence on the back of two straight wins, but a traditionally strong netball college in Truro would provide a stern test. Devon opened the game up in excellent fashion and the first quarter ended at 7 apiece, with Devon holding their own passing the ball well and creating chances. In the second quarter Truro upped their game and pulled 6 goals ahead to leave the score at 10 – 16. In the second period Devon had to work hard to stay in the game as Truro piled on the pressure particularly from their GD and Shooter. Playing with only seven players meant Devon could not rotate the team and give players vital rest and Truro capitalised on this to run put victors 41 – 17. A defeat for Devon, put a strong showing particularly in the opening two quarters. Coach Kate Harper Squad K Legge (GS), C Ridge (WD), S Walker (C), A Cord (GA), C Bull (GK), T Hazel (WA), S Hendriksen (GD) 1st Q 7 – 7, 2nd Q 10 – 16, 3rd Q 12 – 30, 4th Q 17 – 41 Wednesday 14th December British Colleges Sport SW Ability Counts 5 a side Qualifying Competition
The competition was competitive and highly contested throughout all players gave their all and games were played in the right spirit throughout with non playing teams enjoying the games and cheering teams on. Numerous examples of good football were shown and some exceptional goals were scored one reminiscent of ‘Bergkamp’ v Newcastle and one in keeping of ‘Gascoigne’ v Scotland that will live long in the memory.
Coach Stephen Hammond Wednesday 14th DecemberDevon Schools Football
South Devon claimed their first victory in the Devon Schools competition against local rivals Torquay Boys Grammar School, having beaten the weather to get the game played, conditions were not suitable for playing pretty football, never the less a victory before the Christmas break would be well received. Devon played to the conditions and took the lead when Nick Warren sent a hopeful ball forward from the half way line, a favourable bounce and a trailing wind saw the ball sail into the net for 1 – 0, Devon extended their lead when Brad Garnett sent a defence splitting through ball to Aaron Walker who calmly chipped the opposing keeper to make the score 2 – 0 and the game safe.
Coach Squad M Tarr, K Hassell, N Warren, J Routledge, A Walker, A George, L Northcott, B Garnett, D Dickinson, S Troth, S Newland, B Spriggs, P Shaw Wednesday 14th December British Colleges Sport Basketball South Devon College 68 Richard Huish College 64 Devon claimed a close victory against a strong Richard Huish 1st team in a friendly match, in a competitive game, missing Tristan Hall Devon played well with Culley again at the forefront of most of Devon’s offence. Jake Westlake was amongst the high scorers for Devon, Cameron Caton also contributed well from the bench claiming two vital 3 pointers, whilst Russell, Noble and Hutchins were all as normal key figures on the court. Tuesday 13th December South Devon College ‘House’ Competition Handball The second leg of the House competition saw Handball come to the college, with team Grey Thompson under the tutelage of Dave Gould having won the first leg of Netball strong favourites to continue in their winning ways especially with the expertise of their leader. They were expected to be pushed all the way by team Moore led by competition founder Danny Gaze, and as always team Cavendish under Burrows were talking up their chances before a ball had been thrown. Team Phillips led by coaches Newton & Gibson in Watson’s absence started well in beating Hooper’s depleted team Wilkinson 4 – 1. Pre favourites Grey Thompson were surprisingly held to a draw in their opening game by team Wade, perhaps an upset would be on the cards? Burrows held true to his promise to challenge after a poor netball showing and kept to his word by beating Matthews quietly led team Redgrave 3 – 1. Team Moore set their stall out by coasting to a thumping 6 – 0 victory over Putt’s Adlington team, with Mike Berry leading the attack and Deeley marshalling the defence. Wilkinson now up to full strength responded to their early defeat to claim the scalp of Cavendish much to Burrows disdain, Jamie Meaden showing his athleticism to lead his team home 3 – 1. After some choice words from Coach Gould team Thompson upped their game to claim their first victory of the tournament beating a struggling Adlington 4 – 1, Jordan Dale leading from the front. Newton & Gibson, were becoming more Laurel & Hardy as they suffered their first defeat losing to team Redgrave in a one sided match to finish on the wrong end of a 5 – 1 score line. Gaze’s team Moore were looking unstoppable as they romped to a 5 – 0 win against team Wade. Whilst Hooper’s team Wilkinson just lost out by a single goal to a rapidly improving and perhaps tournament dark horses team Redgrave 4 – 3. The battle to win group two was between team Thompson & Team Moore, with Gould & Gaze the handball experts pitting their wits against each other, perhaps not wishing to give too much away having both qualified, the game eased to a 2 – 1 victory for team Grey Thompson. Newton & Gibson were now more like Wallace & Gromit as their team Phillips finished off their group games with another loss against team Cavendish a result that allowed Burrows to progress to the semi finals alongside Team Redgrave.
The game of the day will surely go down as being the first semi final between Redgrave & Moore, Matthews quietly led charges raced into a 2 -0 lead, before Gaze prowling the touchline and exhorting his troops for further efforts, got the response he desired as they pulled a goal back, Redgrave extended their lead to 3 – 1 and looked to have the game won, but a late rally from Moore pulled it back to 3 – 2 before the drama unfolded, with the game in the balance Moore had a player yellow carded and had to play a man down, Redgrave were awarded a penalty shot at goal… a goal that surely settle the tie. The goal was scored, but hang on the referee has ruled it out for an infringement…penalty to be re taken and the game is still in the balance. Goal scored…game over… no? ruled out again, a pause, throw…saved…what a save no goal! Moore reprieved go on the attack and with only seconds left the ball falls to Berry who scores to tie the game at 3 – 3 and extra time golden goal. End to end to and fro what an epic encounter between two evenly matched teams, both sides have chances before Moore score the decisive goal to progress to the final. The second semi final would surely not match its counterpart and so it proved with Gould’s team Moore marching into a commanding 5 – 1 lead, before Burrows Cavendish team playing for pride made the score line more respectable to bow out of the competition with a 8 – 5 loss.
The final saw a repeat of the group stage game between Dave Gould’s team Grey Thompson & Danny Gaze’s Team Moore, would Moore gain revenge…time would tell. In a tactical game where both teams showed that organisation counted, defence was paramount in negating shooting opportunities. The game was close as expected, but team Grey Thompson with Jordan Dale the catalyst again showed their strength to triumph 2 – 1 and claim their second tournament victory in a row and take a commanding lead at the top of the House leader board. Handball Placings
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South Devon travelled to Truro to participate in their inaugural Rugby 10’s competition, missing a couple of key players the game would be a test to see how the players would perform in the different format. Playing in a pool system Devon would need to win at least two games to be in with a chance of progressing to the semis. The competition started badly though with an opening game defeat to Truro College who played the game with only 8 players, Coaches Stewart & Stephens left the players in no doubt of their feelings towards this performance and the effort levels shown.
South Devon were keen to test themselves in this SW qualifying competition after starting their league season undefeated thus far, knowing though that the competition would be greater than that experienced so far, with teams in attendance from leagues higher up in the BCS programme. Drawn against Exeter, Truro & Richard Huish Colleges they would need to win at least two games to progress. First up was Truro College who had been beaten comfortably in league fixtures already this season, but on a smaller court and playing in shortened format of only 10 minutes per game, the result was expected to be closer and so it proved going right to the wire and the victory only assured when Jordan Culley scored the winning points on the buzzer a close call and an indication of what was to come. Next up was Richard Huish College and again the result would go to the wire, with Culley in a battle all game with his opposite number Devon could not get any rhythm and could not close the game out to lose by a point. Needing to win their final group game against Exeter College Devon raised their game to run out comfortable winners with hall & Culley scoring the majority of points the game also allowed bench players to get some court time.
This was the first game after the South West tournament, in which the team got to the semi finals before losing to eventual winners Filton College. Bridgewater should have been the game we played to reach the final however poor performances in the group stage meant we had to play Bristol in the semis and lost 24-12. That said the players came out all fired up to play Bridgewater.
The British Colleges Sport (BCS) Ability Counts 5 a side football South West qualifying competition took place on the Wednesday 14th December, South Devon College having run this competition for the past 4 years as part of their obligation to British Colleges Sport. South Devon College, were competing amongst 6 other colleges from the South West looking to qualify for the National Championships to be held at the University of Bath in April 2012, played in a round robin format, teams would play a total of 5 games before semi & final games, Devon started well drawing their first game v Cornwall College with Tony Green scoring a great goal, their second game against Bridgwater saw Devon claim their first victory with Green again on the score sheet. Another victory followed v Exeter College, Green claiming his third of the tournament and Carl Federico scoring a goal of ‘Bergkamp’ proportions, Bicton College proved too strong however in beating Devon 3 to 0 and losing the final group match to Weston College 2 – 1 meant Devon would be looking at goal difference to progress to the semi finals. A semi final berth v Weston College would be difficult and so it proved as Devon despite manful efforts tired against a talented Weston team to lose 3 – 0. There was no disgrace in losing though as the Weston team would go on to win the tournament itself beating Bicton College in a closely contested final.
