Arafura Games 2005
Beach Volleyball Day 1 - Sunday 15 May
Game 1. Men - NT defeated NT 2
NT won, as expected, against the second NT team that was hastily called on to play in the Men's competition, after a poor showing from international teams, Mongolia being one of the notable absences. The NT 2 team was formed between one player from both the Second and Third-placed teams in the NT's selection competition, their partners both being unavailable at short notice to play. The second-placed Stuart Smith's partner, Greg Holt had to choose between playing Badminton or Beach Volleyball, by his Badminton coach. Greg chose Badminton as he had known he was playing Badminton for sure in the Games and had been training for it for some time now. The choice has paid-off already, with their first team win today. Things didn't go quite as well for former team-mate, Smith, with new team member, Mark Trobbiani, but they did perform better than expected. Smith and Trobbiani won a surprise second set, in what was expected to be a straight-sets win for NT's first team, Octavio
Simoes and Richie Vogt. Simoes and Vogt showed early nerves in this first game, having not played this combination before, by only just winning the first set by two points (22-20). Smith and Trobbiani, settled into their first game together in the second set and won it 21-18. Simoes and Vogt, used their experience as NT's most undefeated team for four years, to settle their attack and win the deciding set 15-12.
Game 2. Women - ADF defeated NT
This was the drawcard match for the night, with home-town favourites, Naomi Kelly and Honor Liversidge, fighting a valiant battle against, the bigger, harder-hitting, ADF team. ADF were by no-means unsupported by the crowd as ADF are always strong supporters of their teams. Two very vocal sides of the crowd ensured that both sides gave their all. The ADF team of Vicky Campbell and Nish Dajski, looked to be in trouble early in the first set, with NT breaking away to an early lead, with hard-serving. ADF rallied to bring themselves even, with some well-placed attacks. The momentum of the ADF team was too great for NT, with the stronger team winning 21-16. The second set mimicked the first with NT leading at one stage 5-0. NT were defending well, cheered on by their supporters, but lacked a strong enough attack to finish each rally. ADF, like a nightmare, rolled-over NT yet again to match the first-set win 21-16, to take the match in the second set.
Game 3. Men - ADF defeated ADF 2
The ADF team on Tony Birthisel and Clinton Field, comfortably defeated their second team in two sets. The ADF 2 pairing of Ian Baker and Dan Johnson, although having a mixture of experience and youth on their side, could not match the teamwork of Birthisel and Field. The game was entertaining for the crowd, as grudge-matches are, with both teams earning the cheers of supporters.
Celebrity Match results:
Skycity defeated Mix 104.9 FM (16-15)
Parmalat defeated Mirambeena Resort (17-15)
Skycity defeated Parmalat (15-13)
Skycity progress to the winners pool, to be played later in the week.
Games tomorrow 16/05/05:
7:00 PM Mon 16/May Women Thailand vs Western Australia
8:00 PM Mon 16/May Men NT II vs ADF II
9:00 PM Mon 16/May Women Australain Defence Force vs Thailand
Last Modified on 16/05/2005 14:08