Let the games begin

Finally the first day of competition arrived. We were up at half past stupid in order to get there for the first game of the day. I have the record for first player on the ground in playing strip!

We were well into our warmup stretches before the NZ girls arrived and got through all our drills. The natitional anthem was playing as were doing the "robbing the nest" drill.

I was in the starting line up on right wing but can't remember if I even touched the ball in the first rotation. We scored first through Deb on a field goal. I went back on the right and started to get into the game and then moved to centre. We had 2 short corners with the second being the lay off to me on the left, but the trap wasn't good and although I got a hit it wasn't threatening the goal. We were still 1-0 at half time.

I started again on the right in the second half and had some good runs and passes. We scored again through Betty who got a touch to a hard hit from outside to deflect it passed the goalie.

Later Janese took a free hit from just outside that got past 2 defenders and onto my stick by the left post but I didn't get the right angle to get it in and it ran over the backline. Final score was 2-0 so we have the first win under our belt.

After the warm down were had our team photo booked. I ordered a tournament shirt taking the last "try on" in my size. I must have missed the email for the pre-order.

Once we got back to the hotel, we got our gear in the washing machine first and then we went to join the team in the pool. Everyone had to have 3 x 1 minute sessions in waist deep water and boy was it cold. We really appreciated the hot shower afterwards.

After a bit of lunch in the room, we headed back to watch the rest of the games, with our 40s and 45s both going down 2-1 and the 35s winning 2-0. 3 of the Men's teams won so it was 5-3 to Australia on Day 1.

We had a team meetign at 5 and then headed to the city centre for dinner where we went off in smaller groups to restuarants of choice. I was in a group of 6 that decided on Thai and we had a great meal at the Thai Village. After dinner we watched a video of our game. That's an interesting experience. You get to relive both your good and bad shots and see how skillful, speedy etc you actually are. Doesn't always match up with your self image.

By today, the bruises from my collision on Sunday were clearly visible. One on my upper arm and one on my hip.