Uni Games 2008 Round Up

AUTC sent two mixed teams to the Australian University Games in Melbourne in the spring university holidays of 2008. Spring may have been the season but it was not the weather. Rain and cold were the theme of the start of the week. The division 2 team started their week with a trip to the State Netball and Hockey centre. They were greeted by expansive fileds, none of them marked by lines indicating touch fields. The div 1 team travelled all the way out to monash playing fields. There they were were blessed with the joy of fields but on more than one occasion were forced to find their own referee for their games. I was a member of the division 1 team and a pathetic example of joy that the social program can ential, so I will give my version of the events, I am sure others will give some funnier stories in due course. The div 1 team started out against melbourne uni after minimal sleep for most participants, most of it on the train on the way to the grounds. Mr Injury himself, Ben O donnell, already playing with a broken bone in his wrist survived the first 39 seconds of the game admirably. Then at our first scoring opourtunity he threw himself into an opposition player busted up his knee. Ice baths for him for the rest of the week. Melbourne were too strong, we were too weak, the score line reflected that descrepincy. We finished the day with 2 wins against opposition who finished lower on the table than us. The following day saw us lose the first 2 games and win the last. Each loss was accompannied by genuine thoughts of "we should have played better than that" from nearly every one. the win was greeted with much happiness. For some, sleep was being had on the floor outside the toilet in their room so that they could "look after their friend...".More fun, frivolity and drinking followed on the town the next nights. In the cross sporting spirit that is Uni games, The Adelaide University Football club were very gratefull for the hockey they played with the AU Touch Club girls.Wednesday, thursday and friday saw the div one team consolidate the fact that it would finish 6th. We played some good touch, we played some ordinary stuff too. The division 2 team from had the bestest of time at their games. They were competitive all week and did some pretty crazy stuff all week. Their coach trent led from the front. The highlight on the field was scoring from the tap. The tap being more of a drop punt into the end zone, the ball being caught by Bushy who put the ball down for an awarded touch down.Green and gold medals were won by Tahlia Christie and Ben ODonell who came back and played well for the last few games of the tournament. Next year the uni games will be on the gold coast. AUTC is sure to send some teams, get in contact with us if you are keen.I had lots of reports of a fun week, if any of the uni-gamers would like to add a bit to this then drop me a line...Jeff