Semi-finals here we come

As many of our avid readers are probably aware we had a sudden death win 16-15 over Great Britain yesterday in the quarter-finals. Here is a bit more colour for the readers at home...

We started on defense and the game went on serve till 6-6. Aussies called a time-out and put on a strong D line to try and get the break. Brits scored and then Australia gave up a break. A couple more trades for GB to take half 9-7. Hussey let fly with a full-blown back hand huck which connected with Laura Pearce's (GB) forehead 3m from the point of release.

Australia received to start the second half to bring it to 9-8. The D got 3 turns before finally converting to make it 9-9. GB sored, then Australia had a messy O point with 2 opportunities with the disc before GB scored again to make it 11-9. Trading continued to 13-13 to GB and time-cap going so the game was capped at 16. The Aussie D got 2 turns but failed to convert and GB took it to 14-13. The next point an execution error by Australia gave GB an easy score to make it 15-13 - match point for GB. The Australian offence scored courtesy of another Diana to Mama connection for 15-14. Then the Aussie D pulled out puppy and got the turn then converted to make it 15-15 - match point for both teams. The Australians again played puppy and on the second pass coming out of their endzone GB threw the disc into Liz Edye playing in the wall. Liz could have scored a Callahan goal but instintively batted the disc firmly to the ground. Ash Martens rushed to the disc surrounded by GB defenders faked a flick then threw a wobbly hammer to Diana Worman for the final goal.

A lot of emotion followed from both teams in a game which either team could have won. Diana Worman had a strong game with 5 goals, 5 assists and a lay out block in the endzone. Keah Molomby also had 2 blocks and Lisa McGinnigle was her usual dominating self as the puppy.

There were 4 games between GB and Australia to determine semi-finalists today: Junior Open, Open, Womens, Mixed.

The Junior Open was almost a mirror-reversal of the women's result, with the Aussie boys losing after being up. The Aussie Mixed team accounted for GB fairly comprehensively 17-11 (after it being 9-8 at half) and the Aussie Open team looked a shade of its usual self going down 17-11, and also losing Pete Gardner just before half to a torn ACL.

The most exciting game of the day (of which there were many!) was the Junior Girls semi-final against Colombia. The Aussie support base arrived (after the Dingoes game) to a half-time score of 9-7 to Columbia. The second half had many exciting plays with the Columbians getting to a 3 point lead 14-11. The Aussies had played man to that point, they transitioned to their well drilled pommy. They forced the turns and then scored 6 of the last 7 points to take the game 17-15 and earn themselves a place in the final.

While yesterday was the clash of GB & Australia, today is Japan v Australia with 3 match-ups: Mixed (semi), Womens (semi) & Junior Girls (final). Good luck to everyone.