Coming straight off a resounding victory over the youngsters from UWC the previous week - the Shadows were full of enthusiasm leading into the match. The traditional 3.5 minute team training took place however it was soon clearly obvious there was some serious issues underfoot. Numbers were definitely not the issue with the highest turnout to date. There were 12 players lined up in the the snappy Kongsberg pink jerseys at tapoff. Pink was also the color of a number of the players eye balls (i.e. bloodshot) however and it proved to be a tough day out on a sticky pitch with not enough sleep all around....
The 1st half saw try for try action, Shadows employed their very basic game plan to work the ball up the field in 3 man driving patterns on attack, then get playmakers involved in the centre to get over the line and finally use the wingers to score the touch downs. A number of opportunities went begging however due to poor hands and not being able to finish the last pass. Defence was also poor with two very soft tries in the first half being let through by some uncharacteristic lapses by players that should have known better (i.e. me). Our two little superstars from last week Mephine and Nadine had probably more sleep and less alcohol of the rest of the team together and they worked tirelessly in defence and attack all day.
Half-time and the scores were very close. Captain Dennis Marshment gave some inspiring words at half-time esp with regard to a substantial increase in the amount of effort being put in. A new subbing pattern was bought in to try to introduce some more structure into the team in the second half. The Shadows spent large amounts of time camped on their own line with some brave defending against a fairly pathetic Singapore Polytechnic attack which relied on individual steppers but were persistent none the less. We did manage to make it over the tryline a number of times however failed to convert as our carefully planned wingers were nowhere to be seen or if they were to be seen it was generally standing about 10m back from the tryline picking their noses and eating their snot.
There were one or two moments of inspiration - Steph the step focus scored a lovely touch down with his trademark prop off the left foot, Big Stu getting his balls fondled my someone half his size was also quite inspiring to see and Dave Teo new hairstyle were probably the highlights of the day on the field.
Thus the game ended with a very close loss 5-4 to a team we definitely should have beaten by at least 5 touchdowns. Food for thought and things to build on for next week.
Highlight off the field was definitely the after match team building event held at the former 'Just Wine' bar which now has a new name which I also cannot remember. On our first visit we managed to get them to change their opening time from 3PM on a Saturday to 2PM to accommodate our team so please make an effort if you have time to pop over for a drink after touch each week at this bar and a chat with your team-mates. Good fun had by all however we would have to ask Luke not to wear such sexually erotic singlets next time, could Sean please stop encouraging our teams athletes to smoke, and could Stuart stop staring at the winelist all afternoon only interrupted by opportunities to talk about volleyball.
Team awards for the week:
Wanker of the week: - The wingers in the second half whose role was clearly explained (to stand wide, keep up with the play and score the tries). However 5 times in the second half when our midfild playmakers got over the line the wingers were NOWHERE to be seen. Then after the match they had the audacity to complain that they did not like playing on the wing as it was boring and there was nothing happening!
Moron of the week - Dal who suggested early last week he wanted to organise a social get together after this weeks game and then 2 hours before the match pulled out with a broken eyelash
Superstar of the week - Big Stu whose desperate Defence on the tryline saved numerous tries
Hero of the week - David Teo who actually turned up AND paid his subs!! Big week for Dave - next week could he go one better and actually play well???
Team man of the week - Gareth - for volunteering to wash the team jerseys... AGAIN - good work bud!
Commitment of the week - Salty Sammy Haggag's WIFE - Salty Sammy dragged his heavily pregnant wife down in the stinking hot sun with no shade and seating to watch us run around for 40 minutes- Commitment!!.(At least I think it was your wife Sammy?)
The last 10 minutes of the second half were always going to be the concern however and with severe exhaustion setting in, the Shadows stiff defensive line crumbled like the Wallaby forward pack on Saturday night and they let in 3 more tries. 
However some silky skill and good attacking work close to the try line by mighty Mephine Ong allowed the Shadows to dot down 3 more tries with the final score being 7 - 4.
The second to last game of round two of the summer league saw the Shadows take on 1-keg. So far this season the Shadows have been working hard on developing the basic patterns in attack and defence which must be done effectively before we can move onto bigger things. Thus the game against 1-keg, was another great opportunity to build on these patterns and gain cohesion as a team. With the best turn out of the season a subbing pattern of one for one was able to be implemented meaning that there would be no problem's with fitness which have hindered the team in the previous weeks. The game started slowly, and early on signs of poor ball handling were to plague the team through out the game. However the shadows dominated the first half still and came through to lead 3 - 0 at half time. There were glimpses of some good passages of play in the first half, however a lack of cohesion, poor ball handling, and poor execution of the basics meant we were making it harder work than it needed to be.
This weeks game versus the competition leaders will be much tougher. Defence needs to be much tighter which will be worked on tonight at training - see you there? Or be a....... 
