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3rd place play off: Invicta (GB) 21 SKK Prievidza (Slovakia) 7Invicta secured bronze place in the Europa Cup finals in Antwerp, Belgium, the best ever performance by a Kent side. Their efforts were capped by a comprehensive win in the 3rd place playoff against Slovak champions Prievidza on Saturday 11, cheered on by the Invicta supporters who had travelled overnight to encourage their team. As expected, the two seeded teams, Die Haghe of the Netherlands, and home side Antwerp Korfbal Club (AFC), progressed from the pool stage to compete in the final. But it was the tenacity of the British squad over the first two days of the competition that earned them two wins from three games, losing only to the eventual winners Die Haghe. 3rd place matchSSK Prievidza threw off, with Invicta attacking the end housing their vocal supporters. The Slovaks have been national champions several years in succession, and had a shock result in the pool matches beating the German side Adler Rauxel. But the Medway team were determined not to go home empty handed. Invicta applied immediate pressure, winning two free passes, with a chance form MacDonald narrowly missing, before Corinne Buckland converted a penalty on three minutes for contact. One minute later, she assisted James MacDonald with a slick pass, and he scored a classic long shot. A quick response by Prievidza, a medium range shot from Lubica Petrášová, was countered by a korf from Sarah-Jane Hubbard, from a classic one-two free pass move, a lightening return pass from Rob Williams. The Slovak champions scored from right under the post through Eva Búšiková, but a sort shot from McDonald and a penalty from Williams, restored a three-goal lead after ten minutes. A korf from the Slovak Marek Šebo seemed to galvanise Invicta, who stepped up a gear. There was a magical display of cool calculated passing, with sequences of up to 15 clean passes. When the Slovaks won the ball, they were quickly dispossessed. Shouts of 'tight tight' could be heard from captain Rob Williams, as the Invicta defence increasingly frustrated SKK. The ball was passed freely and quickly along the court. The nerves settled, Invicta went further ahead on 17 minutes through Corinne Buckland from a free pass. SKK Prievidza called a time out with 14 minutes of the first half remaining. Upon resuming, Invicta responded with a clean korf from behind the basket from coach Dave Buckland. Although SKK had their chances, including two free passes, they did not capitalise on them. Invicta, inspired by their 18-17 win over the Czechs, and spurred on by their lively supporters, hit a poetic purple patch. In a spell of ten minutes, they scored 4 korfs without reply. An extraordinarily long shot from playmaker Rob Williams, was matched by Sarah-Jane Hubbard. Not to be outdone, after a 14-pass move, a long shot was sunk by James MacDonald, followed by another from Corinne Buckland. At 11-3 to the Brits, with two minutes to go, one would have thought Invicta would have settled for that. But a medium range effort from Steve Green and another from Sarah-Jane Hubbard from a free pass took the half time score to 13-3. It was apparent that the neutral Belgians and Germans in the crowd were throwing their support behind Invicta, a measure of the respect that their good play. The Slovaks made a change at half time, bringing on Mohican sporting Matej Mendel, who made an immediate impact, scoring from a penalty in the first minute. A quick reply from Corinne Buckland a minute later, followed by a converted penalty from Williams and a mid-range shot from Natasha Trigg, extended the lead to twelve goals. The ball handling from Invicta could not be faulted, and one sensed that they knew the result was theirs, and the drive now was to rack up a high score. Some variations came into play, with a running in shot from Corinne Buckland, followed by two quick korfs from SKK. A korf from Roland Kiss then a running in shot from the hard working Lubica Petrášová, were countered by another beautiful long shot from Hubbard. Rachel Olding was working tirelessly, moving the ball quickly. Invicta substituted Corinne Buckland with Kim Henderson. MacDonald scored another, taking the score to 19-6, and with 15 minutes to go, Invicta called a time out. Yet another typical basketball long shot from MacDonald took it to 20-6, and Invicta made another substitution, Steve Green making way for Scott Brooker, with less than 13 minutes to go. The strength in depth of the Invicta squad was exemplified by an immediate korf, a mid range shot from Trigg. Both teams then made their final substitutions, SKK bringing on Vanda Machálová for Petrášová, and Invicta bringing on the extrovert Andy Martinez for the top scoring MacDonald. The crowd could sense that the last nine minutes were going to be fun. SKK missed a penalty, and scored on 54 minutes through Denisa Walová. But Invicta were now 'showboating', the extravagant Martinez linking with Dave Buckland, producing efforts from behind the back, flips, reverses, which troubled the basket but not the scorer. It stimulated the Belgian contingent, who warmed up their drums and trumpets in appreciation of the showmanship. SKK called a time out with less than two minutes to go. Invicta retained possession and cruised to an impressive 21-7 win, to bring home the bronze medal and an automatic place in next year's competition. British Korfball should take heart that they are closing on the long established Dutch and Belgians in this sport. Although not all of the Invicta squad got to play in this cup, it is the solid teamwork and commitment from all the players that lead to this ultimate achievement. Invicta: James MacDonald (5), Rob Williams (3), Dave Buckland (1), Steve Green (1); Corinne Buckland (5), Sarah-Jane Hubbard (4), Tash Trigg (2), Rachel Olding. Substitutes used: Andy Martinez, Scott Brooker, Kim Henderson Other squad members: Michael Becket, Mark Hickey, Nicola Stevens, Charmagne Francis. SKK Prievidza (Slovakia): Roland Kiss, Milan Polerecký, Marcel Kavala, Marek Šebo, Eva Búšiková, Stanislava Gogová, Lubica Petrášová, Denisa Walová. Subs used: Matej Mendel, Vanda Machálová. Other squad members: Marián Ondrcka, Tomas Kocner, Ivana Juriková, Monika Cavojská, Katarina Pemišová. Final: Die Haghe (Netherlands) 10 AFC (Belgium) 9 The final between Dutch side Die Haghe and Belgian hosts AFC, was a bad tempered affair, with the Dutch coach being sent off after 20 minutes. There were several 'handbag' clashes, a clutch of bookings, which detracted from a close and competitive game. The drums trumpets air horns and singing from equally boisterous supporters may not have helped the concentration. The Dutch came out on top 10-9, but it was not an attractive game. Invicta results: Pool 1: Die Haghe (Netherlands) 21 Invicta 12; Szentendrei (Hungary) 14 Invicta 17; Invicta 18 Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic) 17. Final placings: 1st Die Haghe ( the Netherlands) 2nd AKC (Belgium) 3rd Invicta (Great Britain) 4th Prievidza (Slovakia) 5th Adler Rauxel (Germany) 6th Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic) 7th Benfica (Portugal) 8th Szentendrei (Hungary) |
