There were major upsets in last week’s Squalleyball competition with the two underdog teams beating the two top teams to totally level the playing field for the end of the season.
Last week’s games signalled the end of the ordinary season, with semi final games to be played tonight.
Both matches last week went down to the final game once again, to decide a winner.
The energy and intensity could be felt throughout the whole youth centre.
On court 1, Naughts and Crosses went up against Cobar Shire Council (CSC) with CSC needing to win to maintain their dual leader status and, despite taking an early lead, they were however unable to hold off the sheer determination of Naughts and Crosses.
CSC won the first game 21-15 before Naughts and Crosses fought back to claim wins in the next two games (21-14 and 21-16).
CSC dug deep and came back to win the 4th game, 21-17, and level the match at 2-all.
Naughts and Crosses rallied again to win the last game 21-15, and seal the match victory winning 3-2.
On court 2, the two High School teams, A-Grade and Reserves, went head-to-head and the tension in the air was so thick, you could have carved it.
With A-Grade operating on a skeleton crew and Reserves at almost full strength, it looked like it could be a total one-sided game.
However, from the opening point, it was like both were playing their grand final match already, and neither side wanted to concede a point.
The first game went into extra points with
A-Grade the eventual victors after taking the game 22-20.
With a full rotation of fresh players for the Reserves, they came on and stomped on an already worn out A-Grade side to claim an easy 21-11 win.
In the third game, the Reserves sent in their B-side team again who were unable to match the skills and experience of A-Grade who took a 21-16 win to put them 2-1 ahead.
The Reserves then sent in their A-side to save face and keep them in the game and won the 4th match by a good 21-13 margin ensuring the 5th game would be the decider.
In a smart strategic move, The Reserves kept their A-side team on the court, choosing not to rotate their players.
This worked well and they took and advantage of an exhausted A-Grade team and won the final game 21-14 to win the match
3-2.
After both upsets last week, all four teams in the competition finished on equal points after each recorded three wins and three losses this season.
A countback of games won per match had to be done to be able to determine the final placings for semi finals.
The Reserves, due to a default maximum score from a forfeit in the first week of the competition, have finished at the top of the ladder with A-Grade a very close second, CSC were third and Naughts and Crosses 4th.
If Naughts and Crosses had not of forfeited their first-round match to The Reserves, the tables could well have turned and they could have been the team to claim the top spot, that’s how tight this competition is.
Speaking with veteran player Colby Lawrence from the A-Grade team, about what he thought of the results, he said: “That’s not a victory that I would brag about.”
“I would rather play and lose than win by a default.
“That’s like getting a participation certificate! Yuck, no thanks!” he said.
In tonight’s semi finals Reserves go up against Naughts and Crosses and A-Grade play CSC.
The winners of each game will meet in next week’s grand final.—Are you being served?
