Date
December 2, 2007
Participants
Dominic Hutchinson, Simon Hutchinson, Edward Nathan, Kevin Nieman
Report
This was the first SCSC tournament since September 2006 which was not a foregone conclusion who was going to win, as illness prevented the SCSC’s best player, Wayne Smith, from attending.
As there were only four players they played each other twice, once on the Drey and again on the Rookery.
Kevin Nieman beat Dominic Hutchinson, who was using Maricopa Vase rules for the last time in this tournament, on the Rookery by 3-0. “I was surprised how well I did,” Nieman said. “I had a lot of fortunate shots.”
At the same time, on the Drey, Edward Nathan defeated Simon Hutchinson with two first half goals. “My goals were scored out of patience,” Nathan explained. “I took my time. I did not rush as I did before.”
Simon was magnanimous in defeat, “He deserved to win. I conceded two soft goals. I tried in the second half but I kept missing too many flicks at close range letting him off the hook.”
Nathan winning streak continued as he ‘mercy ruled’ Dominic with two goals in either half. “I took my time and got my angles,” Nathan remarked.
“I need to practice my goalkeeping,” were Dominic’s only words.
“A very frustrating first half,” was how Nieman described his 0-1 loss to Simon. “In the second (half) my defense had a gap and Simon took advantage of it and scored. I tried one last second shot and Simon saved. It was a very tense match.”
“It was tense,” Simon agreed. “And I am still missing too many flicks by millimeters. My goal was a good strike of the ball. I am relieved to get my first win of the day to make up for my loss earlier.”
Nieman had the last words, “One of the more tiring matches I have played.”
Nieman bounced back beating Nathan, on the Drey, with a goal in either half. “For my first goal I just ran up the field as fast as I could, shot, and scored. My second goal was a very hard shot. This was an intense match. The 2-0 score does not reflect how tough it was.”
“I was not prepared for the first goal,” Nathan explained. “The second was unstoppable. I made two defensive lapses which he scored. Kevin’s skill is good.”
On the Rookery the Hutchinsons’ game ended as a goalless draw. “Simon is having a bad day,” Dominic commented.
Having played each other all once the players now switched pitches for the second phase of the tournament.
An early goal by Nathan on the Rookery looked as if he was going to beat Simon a second time. “After I missed the open goal,” Nathan lamented describing his failure to capitalize when Simon had stranded his spare goalkeeper, “it spoiled the whole game.”
Simon equalized in the second half and the game ended in a draw. “I am still missing those close shots,” Simon lamented. “But at least I did pull one (goal) back. I played defense well and made a couple of saves Edward thought were goal bound.”
“This is the best game I ever played,” was how Nieman described his 4-0 ‘mercy rule’ win over Dominic. “I just rolled over Dominic. Although my fourth goal was total luck.”
The fourth goal was an own goal. Dominic flapped the ball into the goal with his goalkeeper’s rod from Kevin’s cross.
In a tense game Nieman and Simon fought out another draw. Nieman took the lead in the tenth minute, and Simon equalized two minutes later. “I liked my goal and it felt good until Simon equalized,” Nieman explained. “After that it was very tense, as all of matches with Simon are.”
“Despite a lot of possession I just could not keep it long enough to get over the shooting line and take a shot,” his opponent responded. “I have to admit I am relieved I managed to equalize.”
Despite losing to Nathan Dominic scored a cracking goal that took his opponent by surprise. “Dominic made four good saves and his goal took me by surprise,” Nathan commented.
“I thought I played well,” Dominic said. “It is nice to have scored a goal for.”
Simon stormed to two goal lead before Dominic scored his second goal of the night. “The ball was at the top of the D (of the penalty area),” Dominic explained. “I flicked a figure from my half, it hit the ball perfectly and scored.”
In the last game Nathan scored two goals in each half to ‘mercy rule’ Nieman. “I think the rhythm of my game is patience,” Nathan opined. “I even shot patiently. I have learned to take it slow and easy.”
“He was able to capitalize on my error,” Nieman responded. “It felt like I had offense but I just could not execute.”
Nathan finished in first place with four wins, one draw and one loss. Nieman was second, leading Simon by his superior goal difference. Dominic finished in fourth.
Final table
Pos | Name | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Edward Nathan | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 12 | 15 |
| 2 | Kevin Nieman | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 13 |
| 3 | Simon Hutchinson | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 13 |
| 4 | Dominic Hutchinson | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 15 | -13 | 7 |
Results
A four goal mercy rule was used in all games| Edward Nathan | 2 | v | 0 | Simon Hutchinson | D |
| Kevin Nieman | 3 | v | 0 | Dominic Hutchinson v | R |
| Simon Hutchinson | 1 | v | 0 | Kevin Nieman | R |
| Edward Nathan | 4 | v | 0 | Dominic Hutchinson v | D |
| Dominic Hutchinson v | 0 | v | 0 | Simon Hutchinson | R |
| Kevin Nieman | 2 | v | 0 | Edward Nathan | D |
| Simon Hutchinson | 1 | v | 1 | Edward Nathan | R |
| Kevin Nieman | 4 | v | 0 | Dominic Hutchinson v | D |
| Simon Hutchinson | 1 | v | 1 | Kevin Nieman | R |
| Edward Nathan | 2 | v | 1 | Dominic Hutchinson v | R |
| Simon Hutchinson | 2 | v | 1 | Dominic Hutchinson v | D |
| Edward Nathan | 4 | v | 0 | Kevin Nieman | R |
D - Game played on the Drey
R - Game played on the Rookery