After the late predictable late arrival of hideously tracksuit-bottomed Gerrit, our team was at full strength, and feeling fairly confident. The warm up was assisted by the loud, banging tunes of the neighbouring aerobics session (which undoubtedly drew a larger crowd than ourselves!), but the atmosphere in the Reading camp was positive.
The two sides were fairly evenly matched when the game began, with both teams trying to settle into a rhythm. Points were exchanged frantically, with good performances from all of the Reading players. (Particular credit must go to the setter, who had a m arvellous game!!). The scores levelled at about nine each, but our concentration began to falter as Plymouth attacked well. Unfortunately we couldn't lift our game to win the final few points, and Plymouth took the first set.
It was a similar story in the second set, and with little between the performance of both teams, consistency was probably the deciding factor. With no flagging of determination from the Reading side, Plymouth narrowly took the second set. Slightly disheartened we struggled to motivate ourselves for the final set. Reading played well until the end, but the lithe, aerobic bodies of the neighbouring court didn't distract the Plymouth side as we had intended, and they went on to secure the match.
Overall it was a good performance from the Reading side to reach the last 32 in the B.U.S.A. Championship but, slightly pissed off, we set off to drown our sorrows in the bar. In the end the more accomplished (or lucky) team won, and the better looking s ide settled for 3 pints rather than 3 sets.
Written by Scott Rochester