This is England- LPG at the Nathan Blakey Movember Cup
The Nathan Blakey Movember Cup was my first ever time to see a game of UK based footy and so I launched myself in a the deep end for six consecutive games at the Movember Cup, supporting World Footy News’s new writer Jayden Hocking who was playing for the Manchester Mosquitoes. It was fast footy, just based on a rugby pitch with a white stick either side of the rugby posts, and in the freezing cold British winter.
Of course, footy is a Summer game here, but this wasn’t pre-season- it was a charity event to raise money for the Movember Foundation, and most teams were using it as a chance to field some of their younger and inexperienced players. I caught up with some of the teams before they went onto the pitch and here is what they had to say:
Sheffield Thunder: We have about 6 new players, so today is more about team bonding. We want the new players to get to know each other and get involved in the team. Also there’s a lot of other new guys on other teams, and Leeds is an entirely new team, so it’s important to get the new guys involved in the game and get to meet other teams.
Manchester Mosquitoes: We’re confident about putting on a good performance. There’s a lot of new players, but lots more from last season who only got a few games and today is a chance for them to get more experience. It’s more about the charity effort and the chance to have a kick and catch, but hopefully the Mozzies can put on a show and win.
Wolverhampton Wolverines: I’m very much looking forward to the cup; it’s for a very good cause. Many young lads came out today. Nathan Blakey was a key part of the Mozzies and it’s good that the cup has been named in honour of him.
Unfortunately, the Leeds team, many of whom were Australian, were all hiding in the relativley warmer changing rooms until the last minute, so I didn’t get a chance to speak to them before the game.
So let’s move on to the match reports:
Game 1- Wolverhampton 0 vs Leeds 9.9(63)
1st Half: Leeds started very strong and got a few goals in the opening 5 minutes, taking the young Wolverhampton team by surprise. However, accuracy appeared to be a problem with many marks fumbled and half the gaol attempts going behind. The Wolverines started to come together by the end of the first half and even got close to goal but the goal line was well defended by the experienced Leeds back line.
2nd Half: Leeds drew first blood in the 2nd half. Wolverhapton got a good chance from a free kick within scoring range, but again Leeds defended well and the ball was straight up the other end for a Leeds goal. The young and inexperienced Wolverhampton team fought hard against the larger Leeds players, many of whom were Australian, but in the end were unable to come up with anything.
Game 2- Manchester 4.7(31) vs Sheffield 5.0(30)
1st Half: Manchester opened early with a behind followed by a goal. Sheffied fought back in midfield and a soccerball up towards goal tumbled over precariously for their first goal This however was answered immediately by Manchester. Their next goal from a free kick was almost brushed by the high leaping Sheffield full back but slipped through. But Sheffield came back again and got the first half’s closing goal, seconds before the siren.
2nd Half: Manchester again got the opening goal in the 2nd half, but again were answered by Sheffield with a beautiful banana from the right wing. From here on, Sheffield piled on the pressure and all of Manchester’s shots went behind. Then a Sheffield kick out sailed over everyone’s heads and the race to the ball was won by Sheffield, the forward soccering the ball through. Then Sheffield got another goal from a long kick, almost marked by the Manchester full back who lost the ball in an aerial contest. The ball was picked up by the Sheffield full forward who slotted it through the centre posts.
Game 3- Wolverhampton 2.5(17) vs Sheffield 4.4(28)
1st Half: After a long fight inmidfield, Sheffield eventually got the opening goal, though Wolverhampton initially looked more threatening. Sheffield were awarded a free kick within range but took it too quickly and were brought back, the second attempt also sailing through for goal. Wolverhampton then got a change after the Sheffield full back got caught holding the ball, but the young player kicked the ball behind. Wolverhampton got another chance just before half time and soccered it through or their first goal.
2nd Half: The 2nd half started with high intensity but it was Sheffield who got an early chance and went for goal. Finally Wolverhampton managed to answer this with their own goal, but after that point Sheffield really started to dominate the game and piled on the shots, three going behind, but eventually one got through just before full time.
Game 4- Leeds 3.9(27) vs Manchester 0.2.(2)
1st Half: Leeds opened the game with a shot that went behind then after that there was a tough struggle in midfield. Leeds got most of the chances but they were al cleared by the Manchester defence. Eventually the pressure paid off and they finally got the opening goal. Leeds then started to come out on top and quickly got their second goal after a behind, but Manchester didn’t give up, deserving to get on the scoreboard but unable to penetrate the Leeds back line.
2nd Half: Leeds opened strongly and got an early shot on goal, deemed out of the zone. The next few chances were kept to behinds by the Manchester defence. Finally after a free kick went well wide but was marked 10 meters out, Leeds got the opening goal of the second half. Manchester came back but their shot hit the post, and their last effort, just before the full time siren, was touched right on the line by the diving Leeds full back.
Game 5- Leeds 3.5(23) vs Sheffield 4.3(27)
1st Half: Sheffield go two early attempts and though they went wide, it was clear they weren’t going to let Leeds do what they liked as in other games. Leeds went for a long shot, deemed out of the zone, then finally they got the game’s opening goal. Sheffield locked the game down, defending fearlessly, resulting in an injured player just before half time.
2nd Half: Leeds immediately opening the 2nd half with a goal but were unable to add to that with a flashy banana slipping wide. Sheffield came back with their first goal, hitting the cross bar, which of course counts as a goal. Leeds made to counter, but a near perfect shot on goal was touched by the quick Sheffield full back. The ball then went straight up the other end for Sheffield goal number 2. There was a brief uprising by Leeds, well defended by Sheffield, then Sheffield got their third from a soccer which seemed wide, but veered in at the last minute. When Sheffield got another, Leeds seemed to be out of the game, but managed to counter, right on the siren.
Game 6- Manchester 6.3(39) vs Wolverhampton 3.2(20)
1st Half: Manchester came out hard and literally bumped the smaller Wolverhampton lads out of the way to get their opening goal. Manchester tried to add to their score with a soccerball shot that was fumbled for a behind, before adding two more goals to the tally, all within the opening 5 minutes. It seemed to all be going Manchester’s way, but Wolverhampton fought back into the game and were rewarded with a goal. The momentum quickly switched however, with Manchester securing their fifth goal. Wolverhampton got a free kick right on the siren, but it went behind.
2nd Half: Manchester again came out strong in the 2nd half. They repossessed the ball from a Wolverhampton free kick but it went behind, then Wolverhampton got a behind from the kick out. Wolverhampton then got their best chance after being a warded a free kick for a push in the back, and got the opening goal of the 2nd half, but it was quickly answered by Manchester. But Wolverhampton came back again for goal number three and this time Manchester could only come up with a behind off the post before the final siren went.
Finally I managed to catch up with the Leeds guys after they’d come out of the showers. They were all warm and snug inside the club house and were enjoying the cheap beer prices! By this time we’d calculated the scores and Leeds had won on percentage. Though I was asked to keep it a secret, it was clear to me that the confident Aussie boys already had a good idea that they’d won. Here’s what their founder Rhys Long had to say about their win:
It was only the guys’ second game, the first being the friendly against Huddersfield. We struggled near the end but it was a good result. Yes we had 7 Aussies, but they’re not all from Victoria- there’s a guy from Queensland who’s a rugby player. There were a lot of local lads but they’ve got commitments with their families and most of them dropped out. We’ve only just started up, we’ve got no home ground and it’s difficult to organize players. Many are travellers and can’t commit, but after the rugby season finishes we should get a couple of local lads who can stay over the summer.
Then it was on to the presentations for the best moustache, the triumphant Leeds lads got a slab of beer to take home with them as a prize, and then me and some of the Mozzies went down to the Olde Cock pub in Didsbury for some food and good old fashioned Mozzie hospitality. Thanks for a great day Mozzies!
