Rock-it-Ball League Heats Up

The latest fixtures of the Yorkshire and Humber Division of the English National Rock-It-Ball League saw some fast and furious action in Easingwold at the weekend with reigning champions HellCats establishing themselves firmly at the top of the table and justifying their status as pre-tournament favourites.

The first match saw HellCats facing the HellFighters who were league runners up last year but who are a ‘work in progress’ this season. Both teams were depleted due to the unavailability but both teams were determined to give a good account of themselves and tore into each other from the off. With HellFighters still unused to playing together they did well to go into the first interval only 9 points adrift of HellCats. In the second quarter the HellFighters started to gel as a team with Alistair Jackson (a new signing from the Typhoons) working particularly hard and, to the delight of all the spectators, they had turned it round and went into half time with a three-point lead over the HellCats.

Being behind was a new experience for the HellCats and they came out after half time fired up and playing more like their old selves. This combined with some unfortunate penalty points conceded by the HellFighters meant HellCats built an 88-61 lead which they consolidated in the final quarter to win 199-88. HellFighters player-coach Paul Hildreth said: “taking the lead against the HellCats is like tweaking the tiger’s tail – but we were delighted to give them such a tough match and I am delighted with the way HellFighters are starting to come together. We knew this season was a rebuilding period and having seen that performance I am confident in the future for HellFighters.”

The second match saw the Raptors face the newest club, York Pumas. Raptors are improving constantly however York have also made massive strides in a short time and they took the game to the Raptors from the start. However Raptors greater experience was telling and from 7 point lead at the first quarter they built on this to enjoy a 69-42 lead at half time. York continued to fight hard but Raptors gradually extended their lead to 110-67 at the next interval and 143-93 at full time.

HellFighters then faced Typhoons in what turned out to be the most exciting fixture of the day. HellFighters were still tired from their exertions against HellCats and struggled against a competent and eager Typhoons side marshalled by captain Lindsay Kidd. After a real battle the first quarter ended all square. Gradually, however HellFighters managed to build a slight lead going into half time leading by 68-58. A real see-saw battle ended with both teams scoring the same number of points in the third quarter leaving HellFighters clinging on to their 10-point lead. The Typhoons have made massive progress recently and came out for the final period determined to turn things round and ripped into a tired HellFighters side in a period that saw the lead change hands several times with no team able to get more than a couple of points margin until the final 30 seconds when HellFighters made a desperate final push to run out 135-122 winners and lift themselves off the bottom of the league.

Following their epic match against the HellFighters, Typhoons then just had a few minutes recovery time before facing York Pumas. York fought very hard but the superior experience of the Typhoons told and they went into the first interval leading by 10 points. York, however, are learning quickly and outscored Typhoons in the second quarter to reduce the deficit to 4 points. A real battled followed with both teams demonstrating great skill in blocking and shooting and scoring the same in the third quarter meaning York went into the final quarter just 4 points adrift. Typhoons were in no mood to succumb to the York pressure, however, found a reserve of energy from somewhere and took control to run out winners, 103-84.

Carl Alsop, York coach, was delighted with the progress of his team: “These guys have made massive progress – did you see Aaron Perry’s blocking? Unbelievable. In fact all of them get better and better. They really are a team for the future.”

Rock-It-Ball Junior 2v2 League Heats Up

The Yorkshire and Humber Division of the English Junior 2v2 League started to heat up at the weekend as the first three pairs were joined in fixtures by Matt and Dan Openshaw from York and Marcus Exelby and CJ from Easingwold. All of the young players acquitted themselves very well with Easi-RockIt’s CJ attracting numerous comments from admiring spectators.

Current league leaders Charlie Ford and Henry Wilson were first on court against newcomers Dan and Matt from Wigginton. A close first half saw Charlie and Henry build up a single point lead to go into half time at 9-8 however in the second half they got into their stride and ran out winners by 22-13. Following this Wigginton Wombats, currently in second place, met the second new pair of CJ and Marcus who enjoyed a great start and were delighted to go into half time with a one point lead. The Wombats’ experience was the difference between the teams, however, and they didn’t panic but wore the newcomers down to the point where they won comfortably by 31-20.

Dan and Matt were then on court again to face Alex Cooper and Joe Axe who are developing very quickly. Alex and Joe took control from the very start building up a 12-5 lead. Dan and Matt took the game to their opponents in the second half and matched them all they way with both pairs scoring six points meaning Alex and Joe ran out 18-11 winners.

CJ and Marcus then had to face leaders Charlie and Henry. Again, Charlie and Henry had a slow start leading by a mere three points at half time. Again, they appeared to step up a gear in the second half as they romped to an impressive 27-10 victory.

The two York based pairs faced each other next as the Wombats, keen to keep in touch with Charlie and Henry, faced Dan and Matt, who were just as keen to record their first victory. Although Dan and Matt fought well they just couldn’t manage to match the Wombats who built on a half-time 14-9 lead to win 22-14.

The final match saw CJ and Marcus also desperate to record their first win and they were determined not to be fazed by Joe and Alex. A tense, evenly-balanced match saw the half time score show a 5-2 lead to Joe and Alex. CJ and Marcus redoubled their efforts in the second half and they managed to outscore Joe and Alex by one point but it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit and the final score was an 11-9 victory to Joe and Alex – a low score that reflected the excellent blocking and defensive techniques of both pairs.

Easi-RockIts coach Paul Hildreth was delighted with the Easi pairs: “I have been delighted with the start that all these players have made but I must pay tribute to CJ and Marcus. They haven’t had much preparation for this and they have done themselves and the club proud. Watching these guys tells me that the future of Easi is in safe hands.”

English National Rock-it-Ball League (Yorkshire Division) Kicks off in Easingwold

As defending League Champions the Easi-RockIts HellCats kicked off their 2009 campaign in style at the weekend as the first matches of the new Rock-It-Ball season got underway.

The 2008 season was based around just one league, however such has been the growth of the sport that the English National Rock-It-Ball League is now being contested in three regions – North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber with the top two from each region going through to fight for the title of National Champions in July.

HellCats, unchanged from last year when they had a 100% record gave notice of their intention to remain champions by producing a performance of shock and awe as they disposed of three sets of opponents.

English National Rock-It-BallThe first match of the new season was between HellCats and their close rivals the Raptors, a much improved side who ran the HellCats as close as anyone has done, losing by a mere ten points. Immediately after this match the Raptors were up against the Typhoons who have proven to be a bit of a ‘bogey tea’ for them in the past. Today, however, was different. Raptors were determined not to underestimate the opposition and from a four-point lead after the first quarter gradually pulled ahead to win the match by 131-92.

HellCats were then court again to face newcomers York, a young side who unfortunately found themselves under strength on the day. Facing the reigning league champions proved to be something of a baptism of fire as the HellCats strolled to a 115-51 victory.

The final game of the session again featured the HellCats who now had to face the Typhoons, smarting from the defeat against their arch-rivals the Raptors. The HellCats, however, were now well into their stride and produced a performance of total professionalism to storm to a 63-9 first quarter lead. Typhoons fought back hard and managed to reduce the deficit, actually outscoring the HellCats in the second quarter and running them very close in the third quarter however HellCats then stepped up a gear in the final quarter to run out winners 163-83 and maintain their 100% record.

Carl Alsop, one of the league co-ordinators and senior coach of the York team said: “My York team should be very proud of themselves. That was a real baptism of fire and will probably be the hardest game they have ever played. Not only is York a new club, we were under strength today and our first game was against one of the country’s top teams. My guys did very very well to do what they did – they actually got closer to HellCats than the Typhoons did! They will learn from that and will be a better team for the experience.”

2487 Rock it Ball Fame Spreads

Word of 2487 (Easingwold)’s Rock-It-Ball expertise is spreading through the Air Cadet organisation. 1312 (Southend) Squadron, having heard of the waves being made by the two Easingwold teams invited England International Cdt. Sgt Tom Hildreth down to Southend to introduce Rock-It-Ball to their cadets.

Arriving at the sports hall on the Sunday morning for the two hour session, Tom was amazed to see almost 70 cadets lined up and raring to go.

The Southend Cadets were given a short introduction following which they had 10 minutes to practise the basic skills. They were then told the rules and 12 players selected to play a demonstration match. Tom added staff into the mix to make 70 players and divided the players into two groups of 35 with each group having seven teams of five players and playing in half the sports hall. For the next 90 minutes the cadets and staff played game after game in their two groups with some staff and NCOs trying their hands at officiating.

Tom was very impressed with the Southend cadets: “ What a great bunch and the standard of play rose quickly through the session. I saw some great blocking, movement and shooting. There are some talented players here.”

Feedback from the exhausted Southend Squadron was exceptionally positive with all of them amazed at what a work-out they had had. Josephine Fisher summed it up: “its the best sport ever and that’s coming from someone who hates PE with a passion” and Jodie Cottis commented, “It was the most fun I’ve had in ages to be honest. It was brilliant. Lets do it again!!!!!!”