Written By: Irfan Dinnie B Zaihan Edited By: Valerie Chua & Jolene Wong Photographs By: EusoffWorks
The astro turf was smothered in an array of colours under the blistering hot sun. That could only mean one thing, Frisbee season is back! Six halls thrashing it out against one another, all vying for top honours. It’s a Saturday morning like no other but a Saturday morning well spent. Eusoff Ultimate came into the day’s carnival raring to go. Sporting the signature black and yellow and led by Captain Isaac, it was bound to be a spectacle and the supporters who came down were not disappointed.
The season opener for Eusoff was against Sheares Hall (SH). Decked in a fiery orange jersey, Sheares proved to be no pushover as they made us work for every point. First game jitters were evident throughout the first few plays but veteran and LYLC Foong, showed nerves of steel to gain the first point for us. The team went wild and we couldn’t have ask for a better start. As the D Line (Defensive Line) entered the fray, Eusoff deployed operation “Scary Girl” and boy, was it played to perfection! Sheares was unable to pass out from the back and we duly turned defence into offence to extend the lead to 2-0. 2 became 3 within the next play as another costly turnover by Sheares allowed us to capitalise. Ex-captain, Dania, was instrumental in the build-up to extend the lead. Eusoff was riding on the momentum and El Capitano, Isaac, got in the thick of the action. A great throw from deep provides Isaac with the easy catch. Classic. It was not a one-way traffic as Sheares got back into the game with a great sky. 4-1 to Eusoff! Eusoff D Line came on wanting to get a stop and they were duly rewarded as freshie Raymond rejected the disc with authority. The sidelines were hyped but so were Sheares as they piled on the pressure to score the next point. 4-2 to Eusoff! We had a game on our hands. Freshie Kerwei adamant on preventing his man from obtaining the disc, performs a sky D. It was an absolute beauty, this reporter must say. At this point, both halls were trading points with Eusoff finding it hard to pull away indefinitely. Fortunately, the final score read 7-4 to Eusoff. It was definitely a good start for Eusoff.
Back-to-back games proceeded for Eusoff with King Edward VII Hall up next. The packed schedule tested the depth in our squad but it was one test we didn’t need to S/U. We drew first blood with Bryan showing great vision to find Texas Commit, Wei Shien. However, an unforced error in the next play allowed King Edward back into the game almost immediately. The score did not stay stagnant for long as Eusoff got the lead back with just three passes. That’s right, folks. 1, 2, 3, Endzone. Efficient offence right there. Our defence was as impressive as basketballers turn frisbee prodigees, Alfred and Jeremy, played airtight defence. I believe they were both gunning for the defensive player of the year. Alfred read King Edward’s plays like a book as he had various timely interceptions. Jeremy, on the other hand, stuck to his man diligently, displaying Kawhi-like reflexes to force turnovers. The defensive duo paved the way for Eusoff to pull away with a 5-1 lead. Later, captain Isaac casually plucks the frisbee from the sky to further extend the lead to 6-1. From scorer turn provider, Isaac dishes out an assist. Great vision from the capt himself! Eusoff was gaining an unassailable lead but King Edward was not backing down. Two unreturned points reduced the deficit but it was a little too late. A wind assist gave Dania a comfortable catch to earn Eusoff the second win of the day. Final score read, 11-4 to Eusoff.
The second half of the carnival was underway and Eusoff picked up from where they left off. It was no walk in the park as Raffles Hall came right at us. The ever so impressive Kerwei started things off with some 101 handling skills and an assist to Darren, Dmok, for the first point of the game. Raffles scores immediately from deep to even things out. Eusoff swung the disc from left to right but could not find an opening which resulted in an unforced error. Raffles managed to capitalize and took the lead. 2-1 to Raffles. Eusoff then decided to turn it up two notches as freshies Dmok and Kerwei sporting matching Chuckies caps showed their affinity on the pitch with an equaliser. Game on! Eusoff finally caught a break and Vanessa got the lead back. Raffles quickly replied to make it 3 apiece and could have gotten ahead if not for a mad chase down block from none other than Isaac himself. That got the sidelines all riled up! Eusoff and Raffles were trading blows with neither side able to pull away. Dmok showed great composure in the endzone to collect the disc comfortably. 5-4 to Eusoff and the floodgates were open. Seniors Georgia and Chok both got on the scoresheet to further extend the lead. Mingsheng threw one up and…OUT OF NOWHERE, reigning IHG Sportsman of the Year, Wei Shien, catches the disc. Eusoff leads 9-4! Raffles were unable to prevent the Eusoff onslaught. Dmok had a stellar game as his triple fake and an overlapping Toby earned Eusoff another one! Raffles did get the last point of the game but Eusoff came out eventual winners. Final score read, 10-6 to Eusoff.
Next up, the Kent Ridge warriors. Eusoff were unfazed by the constant drumming and cheering from their counterparts who bleed blue as they continued their impressive run. Eusoff started brightly as Brian plucked one from the Heavens to prevent Kent Ridge from scoring from deep. However, Kent Ridge scored the first point of the game. Isaac draws level after an excellent feed from the impressive Kerwei. Experience proved instrumental at this juncture of the carnival as Lui intercepts in an empathic fashion. A hard-fought point by the D line extends the lead to 3-1. Isaac who has been filling the stat sheet all night dishes out another assist to Cheryl who went sky high to score. That’s definitely one for the highlight reel – the Little Monkey with some great elevation. Kent Ridge pulled one back to make it 5-2. Another highlight moment soon followed as ex-captain Dania sends the lad for hotdogs and makes a brilliant cut to end the move that she started. Brilliant stuff. Eusoff played some patient offence accompanied with some solid defence to score consecutive points. Kent Ridge could not force their way back into the game. Final score read, 10-2 to Eusoff.
A much-needed break was called before the final match of the day. The field was cleared, Eusoffians started streaming down in numbers and the stage was set. This is it. The juggernaut. A repeat of last year’s Championship match-up against Temasek Hall. The atmosphere was tense and everyone could feel it. Mingsheng started proceedings by leading the cheer and everyone was pumped, to play the match of their lives. The early exchanges were rather conservative with both sides reluctant to force plays and played it cool instead. Defense was tight on both ends and Kerwei was on the receiving end of a take-down but bounces back up immediately. What a lad. With some patient offense, Eusoff gradually made their way up the field and Isaac led the way with the first point of the game, putting his body on the line to catch the disc. The crowd went bonkers. Eusoff went on D and Foong displayed some immense man to man defense. Little Monkey Cheryl too was in on the act as she gets an interception from Temasek’s throw from deep. Such impeccable timing. Eusoff managed to extend the lead after a great feed to Mingsheng to make it 2-0. Temasek takes one back to make it 2-1. Things are getting heated up. Temasek played some great D too as Eusoff finds it hard to find an opening. Dmok layouts to save a disc and feeds it to Kerwei to extend the lead to 3-1. Easy pickings for the man of the moment. Temasek were not backing down and pushes the pace to get one back. An unfortunate mishap near the endzone allowed Temasek to equalise at 3 apiece.
The clouds were hovering over the field, signalling an omen for things to come. Temasek looked like a different unit and took the lead for the first time in the game. They extended the lead unanswered to make it 6-3 to Temasek. The rain was falling and so were the heads of Eusoffians. We needed an answer and we got a glimmer of hope as we reduced the deficit to 2. The supporters braved the rain, cheering for a comeback but sadly it was not meant to be. Temasek capitalized on Eusoff’s turnovers which proved costly in the end. We huffed and puffed for every play but things were just not falling for us. Temasek came out as eventual champions with the score of 8-4 as they closed out the game. A valiant effort from Eusoff’s Ultimate who made us proud nonetheless and entertained us with some tantalizing plays. The final score read, 8-4 to Temasek. Till the next season, folks!
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