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In any sport, the play-off season often provides teams and players with the opportunity
to participate in what become - 'memorable matches'. And for players of the Division-1
Barbarians, today was certainly one of those occasions.
For our guys, there was no shortage of motivation - heading into today's Semi-final....
and that's exactly how they played.
Beyond the desire to earn a spot in next week's Division-1 Final, our guys were desperately
wanting to defeat the team that had so comprehensively out-played them - when the
two last met, 4 weeks ago.... I just think, it's great that the 're-match' happened
to occur on one of the most significant matches of our 2009 season.
Our guys have known for weeks, that in order to reach the Final, they would have
to defeat the UofM in a Semi-final... And, unlike the previous meeting four weeks
ago -
they knew that they had to be ready for 'this one'..... We knew it was going to be
a challenge, we knew it was going to be a battle - and our guys certainly knew that
they had to be ready.
However, besides all of that, besides what happened in a match played several weeks
ago.... the collective desire within our squad to reach the 'Final' was - massive.
I don't think that anyone within our squad anticipated the 'defensive struggle',
that quickly became today's Semi-final match.... However, it was great to see our
guys respond to the situation, with so much continued determination.... During our
two training sessions this week, 'Team Defence' and 'Work Ethic' were two primary
focal points for us; and these two elements certainly helped our cause today... Our
guys worked tremendously hard for the entire match, and the level of concentration
and commitment that they maintained when defending, when under pressure - was excellent.
That being said, the UofM Wombats were equally as committed, equally as determined
in their play this afternoon. Nothing came easy - regardless of which side you were
on .... It was certainly the type of match which could often have prompted the question
-- 'How long can both teams keep going?'
When we re-gained the lead (13-8), with a try coming at the 7:00 minute mark of the
Second-half, it was the last score of the match... And, the fact that the final 33
minutes of the match were 'scoreless' - is testimony to the intensity of the defensive
contest on the pitch... Nothing was being 'given away' - by either side.
In any event, the 2009 Semi-finals are now done - and we now have to turn our attentions
towards the Division-1 Final on October 3rd., versus the Winnipeg Wasps.
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