STL 06 was 6 packs fledgling competition. A band of brothers brought together by the love of getting an egg shaped ball over a chalk line. It turned out to be a humbling experience. After loosing out to Pukeko and Bro-Town in league games the 6 pack machine choked in the 3rd vs 4th place playoff suffering a humiliating defeat to Bucks.
The 07 experience proved equally as humbling. Sometimes it’s hard to convince myself of the team’s successes between the summers with NTL a distant memory. Teams, like Leander’s fine wines, should improve over time so why haven’t we?
It could be argued we are a different team from NTL 06. True, we have lost some very influential players through National Service, marriage and the overpowering temptation of hairy arm pitted Taiwanese girls. However, in defence, a solid core has remained with new players drafted to fill the shoes of friends who have left. It could also be said 6 pack has suffered due to individuals contact commitments and the exam season. This is true yet unavoidable. Our team is defined by its ability to cover for members who have made equally large commitments in other areas of their lives. Regardless, the squad retains the ability to field proficient players with the potential to soundly beat our rivals any given Saturday.
The real difference is the space between our ears. Mentally we are not as fit as 6 months ago. We aspire to play every STL game with the flow displayed in NTL without maintaining the same training intensity. Obviously we fall short, frustrations arise and scapegoats needed to take the blame. Players take it upon themselves to amend our fortunes by attempting to fashion solo tries out of null opportunities breaking the flow and amassing frustrations in the process.
The pride for our team makes the ensuing backlash all the more bitter. If only our contempt remained on the sidelines. Instead mass emails fill inboxes, each disapproving sentence chipping away at already fragile morale. Ultimately we are left disillusioned, unhappy with our performances and overall standing in the league.
As highlighted after round one UWC-Bucks along with the ever dangerous, Pukeko lads would be challenging us for the title. The games against these two teams would make or break our season yet we failed to comprehend this simple fact. Unbelievably basic attendance and punctuality crippled the team even before the first touch had been made in two of these games. As a team we are notoriously slow to adapt to game tempo and generally only get going by the second half. So understand, key games start midday on the Friday, by confirming attendance, making sure you're fuelled up, hydrated, rested, then up and out with all your gear for the warm up.
However without a doubt and above all else Leander’s injury was the worst outcome of STL. The impact of having the team backbone ripped out is obvious to all and I’m positive this memoir along with our position in the league would be different had it never occurred.
Its not all bad and there is nothing here we as a team can’t fix including Leander’s knee. We’ve got a great bunch of committed new lads who are either dedicated to training or trying to get the attention of coyotes. One of the highlights of STL 07 was Edwin’s and then Derrick’s performance in the first and second UWC-Bucks games respectively. The first half 10-0 demolition of a particularly irritating SSSV6 team was extremely satisfying as was the second half, 5 try fight back against UWC-Bucks and never say die attitude in the second Pukeko game. 6 pack also has the leagues best defence and MVP in Adam.
A successful 6 pack is full of happy 6 packers. So with the league over and the pressure off lets use the forthcoming competitions to bring back the pleasure of playing for each other. Individually we need to return to the NTL way of thinking “how best can I generate a opportunity for my team to exploit,” and not “I wonder if I can burn / step that guy.”
I hope in a few months time 6 pack NTL results will put a smile on my face while I’m freezing my ass off in the paradise that is Wigan.
The 07 experience proved equally as humbling. Sometimes it’s hard to convince myself of the team’s successes between the summers with NTL a distant memory. Teams, like Leander’s fine wines, should improve over time so why haven’t we?
It could be argued we are a different team from NTL 06. True, we have lost some very influential players through National Service, marriage and the overpowering temptation of hairy arm pitted Taiwanese girls. However, in defence, a solid core has remained with new players drafted to fill the shoes of friends who have left. It could also be said 6 pack has suffered due to individuals contact commitments and the exam season. This is true yet unavoidable. Our team is defined by its ability to cover for members who have made equally large commitments in other areas of their lives. Regardless, the squad retains the ability to field proficient players with the potential to soundly beat our rivals any given Saturday.
The real difference is the space between our ears. Mentally we are not as fit as 6 months ago. We aspire to play every STL game with the flow displayed in NTL without maintaining the same training intensity. Obviously we fall short, frustrations arise and scapegoats needed to take the blame. Players take it upon themselves to amend our fortunes by attempting to fashion solo tries out of null opportunities breaking the flow and amassing frustrations in the process.
The pride for our team makes the ensuing backlash all the more bitter. If only our contempt remained on the sidelines. Instead mass emails fill inboxes, each disapproving sentence chipping away at already fragile morale. Ultimately we are left disillusioned, unhappy with our performances and overall standing in the league.
As highlighted after round one UWC-Bucks along with the ever dangerous, Pukeko lads would be challenging us for the title. The games against these two teams would make or break our season yet we failed to comprehend this simple fact. Unbelievably basic attendance and punctuality crippled the team even before the first touch had been made in two of these games. As a team we are notoriously slow to adapt to game tempo and generally only get going by the second half. So understand, key games start midday on the Friday, by confirming attendance, making sure you're fuelled up, hydrated, rested, then up and out with all your gear for the warm up.
However without a doubt and above all else Leander’s injury was the worst outcome of STL. The impact of having the team backbone ripped out is obvious to all and I’m positive this memoir along with our position in the league would be different had it never occurred.
Its not all bad and there is nothing here we as a team can’t fix including Leander’s knee. We’ve got a great bunch of committed new lads who are either dedicated to training or trying to get the attention of coyotes. One of the highlights of STL 07 was Edwin’s and then Derrick’s performance in the first and second UWC-Bucks games respectively. The first half 10-0 demolition of a particularly irritating SSSV6 team was extremely satisfying as was the second half, 5 try fight back against UWC-Bucks and never say die attitude in the second Pukeko game. 6 pack also has the leagues best defence and MVP in Adam.
A successful 6 pack is full of happy 6 packers. So with the league over and the pressure off lets use the forthcoming competitions to bring back the pleasure of playing for each other. Individually we need to return to the NTL way of thinking “how best can I generate a opportunity for my team to exploit,” and not “I wonder if I can burn / step that guy.”
I hope in a few months time 6 pack NTL results will put a smile on my face while I’m freezing my ass off in the paradise that is Wigan.
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