NTL final 2006; Six Pack vs Wanderers

After a long NTL tournament it all came down to this last and final game. Six Pack blessed to be without serious injury were in a position to field their strongest team. The lack of an ultimate frisbee game allowed Wanderers to show up in strength, eager to overturn their 15-1 thrashing earlier in the league and to wash away the bitter taste of the mixed final defeat. The next 45 minutes would determine who would take home the bragging rights and who would be left to answer the endless, “what if’s?” that ultimately follow defeat.

Crowds drew in for the anticipation of a close encounter between the leagues 2 top teams. The only thing that could have possibly fired up the game anymore would be an early score, which Adam duly provided. Scored in the games opening attack between Six Packs most telepathic pair. The Teo-Chan partnership that has proven so highly illustrious throughout the league set up a perfectly executed move, Adam cutting back in and selling the dummy to David before crashing over.

The following encounters saw each team covering the length of the pitch in their respective set of 6. Wanderers eventually set up camp on the Six Pack 5m line but a new diving touch tac-tic adopted by Sujan maintained the Six Pack lead. It didn’t last. A simple switch sucked in the Six Pack defence exposing an open gap for an easy score.

Six Pack came close to taking the lead again after David’s full-length dummy half break and then Yum’s heroic dive and score. What would have been one of the tries of the season was ruled out for being a forward pass.

More was to follow. Gideon’s season long trash talking almost paid dividends, sucking in a Wanderers player twice his size only too eager to knock Gideon out, presented a perfect gap to break through. Only a marginal forward pass prevented Adam from bagging his second.

Play soon switched ends with Wanderers camping out on the Six Pack 5m line. Some questionable defending by Taufik (with a ‘k’) resulted in Wanderers taking the lead and left Leander with no option but to get owned by Six Packs nemesis, Moses!

Worse was to follow as another Six Pack defensive error created an all too easily executed overlap. Being 2 tries down Wanderers sent in Tim to take out Six Packs hatchet man Adam. The bait wasn’t taken. Instead Jit “don’t touch the shirt” Wei somehow managed to pull off a move Kenny could only dream of. Any more for breakfast and his tummy tuck escape wouldn’t have been enough. The score proved vital to lift Six Packs spirits just before half time.

An unusually nervous and quiet half time break ensued. The second half has been renamed “The Amila Show,” by popular demand. Plenty of fluids at the break was just enough to shake off his customary vodka and cornflakes breakfast. Amila then sprung into action scoring from a well-worked “Tuesday.” Interestingly the Wanderers defence decided to adopt a rather unorthodox tac-tic for the second half by swapping hard work and solid marking for a single well rehearse sentence, “but he’s dummy half sir!” Their attack however retained its usual potency as they soon retook the lead; 4-3 Wanderers.

Gideon “almost all the way” Luo could have levelled the score moments later but instead decided to drop the ball over the line. Amila then provided a perfect opportunity for Gideon to redeem himself after a solo break. His dummy half break resembled a scene from a greyhound track; Amila the hare being chased by no fewer than 5 Wanderers players, before offloading to Gideon “Teflon” Luo who showed his first drop was no fluke.

Not to be put off by a laughing competition with Devon, Gideon got back in the thick of things and was only denied a try by a dubious forward pass call. Another try denial followed as Wanderers “he’s dummy half sir” defence fooled the referee.

The equalizer did eventually follow in the dying moments of the game, Amila executing another brilliant play ensuring extra time sudden death.

The atmosphere at extra time resembled that of a World Cup penalty shoot out. Six Pack nerves held steady as the chosen few performed textbook crash ups followed by an Leander-Amila combo handing the try advantage to Six Pack. The pressure proved too much for Wanderers to handle as their attack failed to match that of their rivals.

Six Pack 5-4 winners and NTL Champs

Thanks to Brenda for the photos, the film crew and their commentary;

“Taufik I love you,” -Sheema
“He’s so cute,” -(about Moses) Unknown
“Come to me!” -Steph’s incentive to crash up the field
“Sujan I love your hands,” -Sheema
“Alan looks smart with his shirt tucked in, but not cool,” -Aien
“I think the ref has PMS,” –Unknown but probably Sheema

The celebrations went well into the night. Special mention should go to Adam for picking up the Men’s MVP, an award voted for by the players and to David for most tries scored. Emotions ran deep as players tattooed their chests in the time-honoured tradition with their commitment to the team or just their favourite player.