Play-Off Report

Having sneaked into the Play-Offs on the last day, Nomads presence at the play-offs may have come as a surprise to some but their performance over the two games justified it entirely.

Their Saturday match up against reigning champions Trojans proved to be the game of the weekend as Nomads battled superbly to leave the result in doubt right up until the final whistle.

The game started slowly with the first five minutes only being notable for Bijker inevitably opening the scoring for Nomads and Trojans then levelling with a penalty.

Ana Osbourne then won the Reds a penalty that was converted by Captain Ean Irwin but Trojans again responded with a penalty of their own for 2-2.

Trojans then sank three goals without reply to surge into a a 5-2 lead but where most teams with wobble, Nomads rallied with goals from Joe Olds, Sytze Bijker and Ollie Bell pulling the scores level at 5-5.

The Trojans response was just as efficient though, two mid range shots and a penalty gave them back their three goal advantage at 8-5.

Top level Korfball is all about reacting to pressure though and Nomads responded again. Bijker added to his tally, converting a free throw, Ean Irwin then blitzed past his player to score a running in shot.

With the lead cut to one goal, Nomads won a penalty and despite fluffing his lines with the initial shot, Irwin won the rebound and assisted Sam Rowbottom who levelled the scores at 8-8.

The remaining minutes of the half saw Trojans score another penalty but Sarah Knapper drew a foul and Bijker despatched a penalty of his own to leave the game 9-9 at the break.

Nomads came out stronger in the second half, Ana Osbourne and Joe Olds scoring and leaving Nomads two goals up and their support cheering in delight.

Both sides then traded goals, a neat drop off shot pulled one back for Trojans, Bijker scored his fifth of the match in response, Trojans responded, Sam then scored her second of the game but Trojans again replied with a penalty and another drop off.

Joe Olds gave Nomads the lead again and Nomads were 14-13 ahead.

Coach Butters, resplendent in suit and tie, called a time out but it was Trojans who came out stronger, two more goals to regain the lead before Bijker levelled with a long shot.

Trojans then took the lead back from a free pass and the game continued to see-saw as Sam Rowbottom sank her third of the game, jumping with delight.

With less than ten minutes to go, Nomads had the opportunity to pull off a shock win but a quick fire double took Trojans back into the lead and some exemplary defending kept out the Nomads attack in the remaining minutes and Trojans squeezed through to the final.

With Kingfishers despatching a weakened Nottingham side in the other semi final, Nomads had to pick themselves up and take on Nottingham in the 3rd/4th play-off.

Having showed their class and nearly sprung a surprise against Trojans, their strong start to the game came as no surprise.

Bijker again opened the scoring with a simple drop off shot and Ollie Bell then won a penalty that Bijker converted with ease.

Nottingham pulled one back but another penalty, this time won by Ana Osbourne and converted by Ean Irwin took Nomads into a 3-1 lead.

The impressive shooting continued with two more from Bijker before a Joe Olds drop off.

Fifteen minutes gone and Nottingham called a time-out that seemed to break Nomads rhythm and boost their cause. They scored four without reply and forced Coach Butters into a time out of his own.

Nottingham then levelled the game at 6-6 but some superb defending saw Nottingham buzzed out on the shot clock and the momentum swung back as Ollie Bell won a penalty for Bijker to despatch and Emma Cole then opened her account for the weekend for 8-6.

Nottingham rallied again before half time though and levelled the game at 8-8. Sarah Knapper then scored for 9-8 and Bijker scored yet again for 10-8.

Nottingham thought they had scored but a runner but it was ruled out for cutting, the disappointment was shortlived though as they scored a legal runner for 10-9.

Ana again used her nous to win a penalty and Irwin converted.

Ollie Bell then took Nomads 12-9 ahead before Bijker won and converted another penalty.

It was then Joe Olds turn to join the party, scoring from open play and then from under the basket for 15-10.

Nottingham responded again but it was too little too late.

Four goals split by a Joe Olds runner left the final score 16-13 to Nomads and third place was the prize for a seasons hard graft.

With Kingfisher wilting under the pressure of the final, losing 28-13 to Trojans, Nomads can only wonder as to what might have been if they'd closed out semi final or finished 3rd in the regular season table.

However as we live in the reality we create and not the world of what ifs, the squad and the management can only be applauded for a superb achievement in finishing 3rd and participating two thrilling games of a Korfball.

A well earned rest and maybe a few drinks now await!

Come On You Reds!

Nomads In National League Play Offs

Having achieved 4th position in the English National League, Nomads have earned a place in the National League play offs on May 4 and 5 at Whitgift Sports Centre.

Head coach Dave Butters said the following about the squad's achievement;

“Being involved in the England Korfball Grand Final Play Offs, is reward and recognition of the players achievements during a long national league season, made all the more rewarding when most teams in the league were able to strengthen pre season.

Our players have progressed, technically and mentally and a top four finish justifies our quiet determination to be part of this showcase event.

I am privileged to be coaching at one of the largest and well run clubs in the UK and look forward to the challenge of the semi finals against the current EKA Champions.”

David Butters

Head Coach Nomads KC

On Saturday Nomads play Trojans who finished in 1st place, the throw off time is 3p.m. Sunday's match will depend on the result of the match against Trojans. A win over Trojans will secure a place in the final at 4.20 p.m. otherwise Nomads will be in the 3rd/4th place play off at 3 p.m.

Let's have a huge turnout of Nomads supporters at Whitgift on both days, making plenty of noise and cheering our players to victory.

Come On You Reds!

Nomads Make Play-Offs With Croydon Win...

Another under par performance from Nomads still proved just enough for Nomads to take fourth place in the league and sneak into the play-offs.

Facing old foes Croydon at the London MGV, Nomads would have expected to perform more convincingly but knowing all they could do was win and await the result of Kingfisher v Bec, perhaps the low key nature of the game was to expected.

A win was all that was needed and it didn't matter how it happened.

The game started slowly with Nomads taking a 3-2 lead in the first 15 minutes.

Ollie Bell opened the scoring from under the basket after some good work in the rebound. Croydon then levelled before Ean Irwin then opened his account for 2-1.

Croydon then made it 2-2 from long range.

Top scorer Sytze Bijker took the scoreline to 3-2 and Nomads then pulled away with Ollie Bell again scoring from under the post for 4-2.

Nomads fifth goal came as Sam Rowbottom intercepted the ball superbly before making a great pass to feed Ean Irwin for a well taken running in shot and Joe Olds then rolled out the long shot for 6-2.

Croydon clawed a goal back from the penalty spot for 6-3 and Emma Cole finally had something to show for her first half efforts, scoring from distance to give Nomads a 7-3 half time lead.

Olds opened the second half scoring, sinking from long again and Croydon responded well with a running in shot of their own.

Bijker added another for 9-4 but Croydon surged back into contention with three unanswered goals and you could sense that they had realised that they still had a good chance to pick up a shock win.

Nomads kept their cool though and Ollie Bell notched his third of the game before a Croydon penalty was easily dispatched.

Nomads Captain Ean Irwin then fluffed his lines at the spot and Croydon had a chance to bring the score to 10-9 but they also missed from the spot and Ean soon made amends for his miss, dropping off his player to score for 11-8

Croydon again hit back but Nomads replied strongly with a good run of attacking play resulting in a runner and a fourth of the match for Ollie Bell to open up a three goal lead of 12-9.

An injury to Sinead Chalmers forced a substitution and Rebekah Humphries came on for her as Nomads looked to hold out for the win.

A Croydon free pass reduced the defecit and another injury, this time to Emma Cole, saw Sarah Knapper subbed on.

Nomads held out for their vital win though, Joe Olds scoring before the end to give Nomads a 13-10 win and nervous wait on the last match of the day.

With Kingfisher playing Bec in the final MGV game, Nomads needed a favour from their Kent rivals as a victory for Kingfisher would see them cement their third place position and hand Nomads fourth place as although they would both finish on 22 points, their head to head record over Bec would see them finish ahead of the Tooting based side.

It's also worth mentioning that a draw would have seen Bec & Kingfisher qualify at the expense of Nomads so only a Kingfisher win would do.

Luck was on our side though and as the sun shone down on the palatial grounds of Whitgift School, the venue for the days Korfball, it also shone down on the team in red as Kingfisher won the match 16-15 and Nomads qualified for the play-offs by virtue of a superior goal difference in their head to head record against Bec.

Although they might have limped over the line, the league table very rarely lies over a full season and there has been some superb Korfball played this season by the team and they have earned their place.

Nomads can go into their Semi Final with Trojans knowing that on their day they are equal to any side in the England Korfball League and have every chance of ending the season with glory.

Squad

Ollie Bell (4) Sytze Bijker (6) Simon Cole (2) Ean Irwin (3)

Sinead Cafferkey, Emma Cole (1) Ana Osbourne, Sam Rowbottom

Subs Used

Sarah Knapper, Rebekah Humphries

Come On You Reds!

Knights Vanquished In Thriller

Nomads left their supporters with shredded fingernails after a thrilling encounter with Norwich Knights at Epsom College today.

With four wins out of four for the lower teams, Nomads had the chance to make it a clean sweep of wins for the club.

The teams traded goals early on, Emma Cole opening the scoring before two impressive long shots from the Knights girls swung the advantage back.

Sam Rowbottom levelled with neat goal and Emma Cole worked Nomads 3rd goal from close.

Simon Cole then hit from long and Ollie Bell followed up with one of his own to put Nomads 5-2 up.

In these early stages you would not have found many who would have believed this was the furthest in the lead Nomads would get all game.

Knights pulled a goal back from long, Sytze Bijker sank his first shot of the game from the side of the court before a quick double from Norwich pulled them back into contention at 6-5 with 15 minutes played.

Captain Irwin then added his name to the scoresheet for 7-5 but the game was to swing well into the favour of Norwich Knights in the lead up to half time as they scored five unanswered goals, two coming from the penalty spot.

Nomads called a time out to try and settle what was becoming a rushed and disjointed performance and they managed to force a penalty just before half time, which Bijker despatched to leave Nomads trailing 8-10 to Knights at the break.

Close enough to easily get into the game but far enough behind to easy lose touch and fall to defeat, the game was delicately poised.

Olly Bell opened the second half scoring from long again and when Norwich missed a penalty there was some discussion amongst the crowd as to whether it could signal a turning point in the game.

It did, but not in the home teams favour, a free pass was missed and with it the chance to level the scores at 10-10 and Norwich hit another run of shooting form, scoring two drop shots and another from under the basket for 9-13.

Four goals ahead is a strong position and Nomads needed to draw on all their mental resources to keep in the game.

An Irwin free pass reduced the gap to 3 but it was opened again almost instantaneously.

Emma Cole then scored from long under somewhat unusual pressure and Sytze made it 12-14 soon after.

The tension in the hall was building and although Nomads were getting back into the match the consistency and flow that comes with our more confident performance had yet to arrive.

Norwich again opened the lead out to three goals with a drop shot but Ollie Bell rolled out the coolest of long shots, Simon Cole added a runner and Bijker sank a free pass to level the match at 15-15.

A penalty gave Norwich the lead again and Coach Butters introduced Sarah Knapper for Sinead Chalmers before Knights fluffed their lines missing a penalty.

Ollie Bell, masterful under the post levelled it from under the basket and an increasingly nervous looking Knights called a time out of their own.

Sytze Bijker added to pressure dispatching a free pass to give Nomads back the lead but the visitors levelled again.

Irwin then took the score to 18-17 but again, the impressive Knights scored again to equalize.

Butters used his second time out to try and see his side home but the next goal came from long for Norwich, 18-19 and the nerves of all watching shredded, Sarah Knapper levelled from long range and the Nomads crowd roared again.

Arguably the stand out performer, the was stage set well for Bell to win yet another rebound and score the winner and he seemingly did it with another well taken goal from under the basket.

Knights weren't to be beaten that easily though and with a minute remaining they levelled the scores again.

With the score poised at 20-20 and the attack diligently going through the phases trying to work a clear chance, it seemed the whistle would go before it arose, but come the moment, come the man and Sytze, ran his man and drew the foul but the penalty was not needed as despite being impeded he forced the shot up and the ball dropped in to the delight of everyone in red.

Knights just had time for one more attack but couldn't do anything to prevent the win.

The result will be a disappointment for them as they played the more consistent game as Nomads went missing for periods and their long shooting was in fine fettle but the composure came back to Nomads when they needed it most and they forced the victory by the smallest of margins to win 21-20.

Squad

Olly Bell (5) Sytze Bijker (6) Simon Cole (2) Ean Irwin (3)

Sinead Cafferkey, Emma Cole (3) Rebekah Humphries, Sam Rowbottom (1)

Sub Used

Sarah Knapper (1)

Other Scores...

Seconds win 15-10 against Highbury. Not their best performance of the season but an important win.

Fourths ended a run of three draws, defeating Woking 11-9

Fifths won 9-5 against Pelham.

Sixths won 10-6 against Trojans 3.

Come On You Reds!

Bearsted Beasted...

Nomads recorded a comfortable win over Kent side, Bearsted but will be frustrated to have fallen just short of what would have been an

incredible stat.

With the seconds recording a 30-6 win, the firsts seemed on course to record the same goal tally before fading late on.

However it shouldn't distract from the quality of Korfball in the rest of the match, with two extended periods of dominant and confident

Korfball.

The first twenty minutes saw Nomads take a 10-0 lead, with 4 goals from Joe Olds, 2 from Ollie Bell and 1 each from Ana Osbourne, Ean

Irwin, Sytze Bijker and Sinead Chalmers. The highlight probably being an incredible long shot from Joe Olds for the 10th.

Bearsted finally troubled the scoreboard for 10-1 and then a penalty for 11-2 either side of a Bijker running in shot but another Olds long

shot, the first of the game for Sam Rowbottom, an Osbourne long shot and another for Bijker had Nomads 15-2 up at half time and on

course for the magic thirty goals.

Bearsted opened the second half scoring but Nomads replied with a fulrry of three goals from an Ollie Bell runner, a simple drop off shot

from Sam and a Joe Olds runner facilated by a superb crossfield pass from Sinead.

Bearsted notched again for 18-4 but a confident and devasting flurry of goals continued, Ollie Bell twice showing his dominance under the

basket to take the Nomads tally to 20, top scorer Bijker added another and Bearsted got their fifth with a well taken long shot as they

continued to fight hard.

Bell took his total for the match to seven as he scored from long and again under the basket, his opposite number struggling to cope in the rebound.

Sarah Knapper then won a penalty, incredibly the only converted penalty of the game for Nomads, which Sytze calmly scored for 24-5.

Bearsted then had a penalty of their own and scored from open play to take it to 24-7.

Frustratingly for Nomads the finishing touch seemed to drift away from the game in final 10 minutes and despite a time out from Coach Butters to try and rally the team for one last push, only Ean Irwin was able to trouble the scoreboard and the game ended 25-7.

A comfortable victory with some wonderful Korfball played but there will always be a sense of "what if" about the 30 goal target. Suffice to say though, it won't be the last time this Nomads side get close if they can replicate the periods of dominance in this game for longer.

A Saturday night game against Tornadoes is up next for Nomads, 7:30pm at Epsom College. Be there, be loud!

Come on you Reds!

Squad

Ean Irwin (2) Joe Olds (6) Sytze Bijker (4) Ollie Bell (7)

Ana Osborne (2), Sarah Knapper, Sinead Chalmers (1), Sam Rowbottom (3)

Subs Used

Rebekah Humphries, Emma Cole

Other Scores...

Seconds win 30-6 against Supernova2. Dominating in every department and improving on Monday nights 28-8 win over the same opposition.

Fourths defeat Bec 5 in a comfortable 15-4 win

Fifths lose 13-6 to Bec 4.

Sixths played a friendly against Bec 6 which was drawn.

Come On You Reds!

Nomads Never Say Die Attitude Nearly Yields Victory...

Nomads fielded a team to face the National League Champions and current leaders of the EKL with three regular 1st team players Sytze Bijker, Joe Olds and Emma Cole unavailable.

Trojans got off to a strong start and it seemed that they could hardly miss a shot.

After 6 minutes and already 5 down Nomads Coach Dave Butters was forced to call a timeout to disrupt the rhythm of Trojans attacks.

With the match barely ten minutes old, Trojans had now scored eight without reply from the home side.

To Nomads supporters it looked as if we would not only suffer a rare defeat but possibly our biggest of the season.

Nomads were then awarded a penalty which was coolly converted by Ean Irwin, a goal which started a Nomads revival.

The next four goals went to Nomads to bring the score to a more respectable 5 – 8. Nomads fought hard for the remainder of the first half and although they defended resolutely Trojans managed another three goals to the home side’s two.

The first half ended with the score set at 7 – 11 and the prospect of an entertaining second half.

The start of the second half did not disappoint.

Nomads fired in seven goals with the visitors replying with six to bring the score to 14 – 17.

This revival spurred on Nomads with the three players brought in to replace those that were unavailable, Terry Forde, Simon Cole and Sarah Knapper, not looking at all out of place.

Nomads scored again, 15 – 17, however Trojans replied, 15 -18.

Nomads would not give up without a fight and scored another two goals 17 – 18.

Nomads supporters were unable to contain their excitement, could Nomads snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Alas, referee Ian Buckle blew the final whistle before Nomads were able to draw level but the seemingly impossible task of making a game from an eight – nil deficit was a magnificent achievement itself.

This performance bodes well for the remainder of the season and marks our intent to secure a place in the end of season play-offs.

Squad

Ean Irwin (8), Terry Forde, Simon Cole, Ollie Bell (5)

Ana Osborne (2), Sarah Knapper, Sinead Chalmers (1), Sam Rowbottom (1)

Other Scores...

Seconds win 16-14 against league leaders Trojans 2 to move up to second with a superb performance outlining the depth of the squad.

Thirds take a close victory over Highbury 1, edging a tight match 22-21 to strengthen their league position of 4th.

Fourths draw 8-8 with Highbury 2 in a game where they could never quite take a commanding lead.

Fifths beat Pelham 10-7 in a fiery encounter but ultimately the quality of Nomads shooting won out.

Sixths played a friendly against Bromley and won.

Come On You Reds!

Training!

Dave Butters, our squad coach, would like to invite non-squad players to the training session on Wednesday, February 6 at Epsom College. The session will run from 20:00 to 22:00.

Dave has emphasised that will be about technique rather than fitness and provides a great opportunity for all non- squad players to experience what a squad session is like. So whether you are quite new to korfball, ex-squad or an experienced player who never made it to the heady heights of the squad you are invited to attend the session.

The squad has been given the night off, so you won’t have to compete against them.If you haven’t replied to the emails about the session, please let Lol know if you want to attend so that Dave can have some idea about numbers.

More Articles...