APAC/WFC Qualification Report

After a tough week the team has qualified for the WFC 2010 in Finland in December. This was the primary aim of the team and now we can work towards the WFC. Well done to the players and coaching staff to achieve the qualification.

GAME 1

The first game was against Japan. The Japanese played a fast and aggressive style which our boys took some time to adjust to. The score was 5-1 after the first 2 periods and then we held our own in the last period scoring a goal each to give a final score of 6-2. Our goals were scored by Carl Lowenborg and Jono Veron.

GAME 2

We played Korea on day 2. It was a very physical game with a number of penalties given for rough play. After 2 periods we were leading 2-0 and then after 47 minutes it was 3-1 with Spud scoring on a short hand play. Korea then pushed hard and eventually drew level in the 54^th minute and the scores stayed at 3-3. Our goals were scored by Tim Campbell and Anthony Boteler (2)

Following this game it appeared that the 3^rd qualification spot would be decided on goal difference between us and Korea

GAME 3

Our next game was against Singapore and the guys came out fighting and keeping Singapore under pressure. We scored the first 2 goals with the score 2-0 after 21 minutes. Singapore then scored the next 3 goals before we drew level again at 3-3 and then 4-4 at the 42 minute. Unfortunately the team was becoming tired and Singapore scored the next 4 goals to win 8-4. Our goals were scored by Anthony Boteler (2), Chris O’Sullivan and Derek Kippo. After this game and the other results it was clear the final position would be decided by goal difference.

GAME 4

We arrived at the venue to find Korea leading Japan 4-2 at the end of the second period. At that stage if Korea drew or won we could not qualify. Thanks to our Japanese friends they scored the next 4 goals to win 6-4. This meant we had to win against Malaysia by at least 7 goals to qualify. The game started with a few early nerves but these were settled by the first goal at almost the 3 minute mark. The next goal was n ot scored until the 15^th minute leaving the score at 2-0 at the end of the first period. The second period was tight until the 24^th minute when we scored 2 goals in 2 minutes including an air hook by Ben Monckton and then another at the 37^th minute to leave us 5-0 at the end of the second period needing 2 more cleat goals to qualify. The last period started with a bang with us scoring goals at the 40.15 and 40.53 and 41.19 times to give the team a 8-0 lead which would allow us to qualify if we held that lead. 2 further goals were scored at the 52^nd and 55^th minutes to give us the final score line of 10-0 meaning we qualified. Scorers for the game were Chris O’Sullivan (4), Ben Monckton (2) and single goals from Jono Veron, Shaun Frazer, Tim Campbell and Derek Kippo.