Paul Walker

After a hard days paddling the day before, it was off in the minibus to Glenrothes for Division 1 Kayak Polo, and as this year the playlists are withheld until the start of the competition, we had no way to be able to come up with a strategy in advance.   As it turned out, we only had three games with seven people to pick between, against Linlithgow (one of the top three teams in the league), Dundee Uni Canoe Club (who's team has twice picked apart our defence leaving no room to retaliate), and West Lothian (who after taking posession of our best striker now seem to know our tactics - or lack thereof - as well as us).

Colin (our teams captain) asked me to organise the teams for the games, but unfortunately I was still tired from the day before, so reenacted the delegation, asking Ross to come up with a plan.   In the end, it was the somewhat predictable "Paul plays all the games in goals, and everyone else rotates round as needed" plan.   I'd like to say that it's what I'd have done, but it's not.

Linlithgow was the predictable wash-out.   I think I was the only player who let us down in the first half, conceding far more shots than normal; fortunately I managed to return to standard for the second half,   Though it's still hard to view a 10 - 0 defeat as anything other than a total pasting.

The game hardened us for the Dundee match, keeping us on form and remembering to pass well.   I managed to pull out of my stuper and set Colin up for a goal in the first half, meaning that for the first time in a Division 1 match, we were in the lead.   And we never lost it.   Glasgow Uni Canoe Club defeated Dundee Uni Canoe Club 2 - 1 ... and this is particularly good news when SUS (or SSS) is such a short time away.

Despite the hard fought victory against DUCC, West Lothian was just as good a match as despite it being a 6 - 1 defeat it didn't feel like they'd managed as much.

Throughout the competition the team was playing well, coordination was good, defence was much improved, and less shots were woefully off target (George's  attept to knock the goalie out not-withstanding).   Overall, an excellent tournament on the run-up to SUS.

The trip back was uneventful (Ezra had bet us that we wouldn't beat the DUCC's and lost so had to forfeit by being silent on the journey home).   Serena's was excellent, even if Euan and George decided to bite off more than they could chew:

Oh, and Ross needs to learn to shoot.