Dalhousie / King's Ultimate

DKUT > History > FrUIT Bowl

FrUIT Bowl

(January 31, 2010)

DKUT placed 1st at FruitBOWL in Fredericton on January 29-31, 2010.

Here is a brief summary of DKUT's trip experience to Fruitbowl 2010. For the DKUT video highlight reel, scroll to the bottom of the page.

The driving up to Fredericton was treacherous. In the middle of a winter storm DKUT drove from Halifax to Fredericton on the friday afternoon for a friday night game against UNB Fredericton. This university team has lots of committed and atheletic players that will be very good very soon. However, they were unable to match DKUT during the game, DKUT pulled out a slightly lopsided win, 9-3.

Saturday morning was different. DKUT faced a very strong F-bomb (Saint John, NB) team on Saturday morning, and F-bomb showed their intentions by break DKUT on the first point. The O-line refocused and with some help from the D-line, DKUT were able to win by 3.

Reseedings placed DKUT in a power pool with Fredericton's touring team (Spawn) and Moncton's (MUTT). Facing Spawn DKUT got out really slowly, conceding the first 3 points in a 45 minute long game. After a refocusing timeout DKUT began to roll. Spawn continued to press but huge plays by Erin McMahon, Jackson Byrne and Colin Yeung (to put names on this write up) started the come back. With less than 5 minutes left and down two breaks, DKUT went for broke and put on a "stop the bleeding" line. Good pull coverage brought a drop on the first pass which Matt Hogel flipped to Bobo Eyrich in the endzone to make it a 1 point game. Another break meant universe. Erin McMahon pulled out a huge layout D on universe to give DKUT the disc. After some outrageous yoga, Colin Yeung was unable to keep a hold on a disc thrown behind him and Spawn had the advantage yet again. After a contested foul call Alex Nelson managed to hand block/swipe the disc to give DKUT the advantage. A break side huck from Martha Baldwin to Matt Hogel was followed by an offhand backhand by Hogel to Alex Nelson for the double happiness and the come-from-behind win.

In Fruitbowl 2009, DKUT lost their quarter final against MUTT and the desire for victory was apparent in every DKUT player. Huge plays and awesome sideline help contributed to the extraordinary energy and work ethic that each team member put into the game. Liza Shelley and Jackson Byrne had particularly noteworthy Ds, Liza intercepted a huck and Jackson Byrne skied two MUTT players for DKUT. The opportunity to slip up was there but DKUT held firm. The game ended with a low backhand from Fred Li to Bobo Eyrich. The game ended on a slightly sour note as a huge kick-spike was misinterpreted by both MUTT and the crowd. However, DKUT won 8-6 in the end and was on to semis.

Sunday's semi-final was against Surfing-Oysters from Halifax. The players on DKUT and Oysters are great friends and this made for an interesting game. Ex-DKUTer Steve Creaser came up with an awesome dump D that was converted to put DKUT down 1-0 to start. However, DKUT didn't let that get them down and got the focus right back. A quick O-point and an interception led put the game back on serve. The game was full of superb disc skills by both teams. Graham Carey was particularly superb on the mark in the DKUT zone. After intercepting an anticipated throw, Bobo Eyrich airs out a huge backhand bomb to Erin McMahon who had taken off for the endzone to reel in the huck, to win the game for DKUT with a score of 7-4.

In the final, DKUT faced Spawn yet again. Spawn were clearly upset with their loss and were eager to beat DKUT when it mattered, but it was not to be. DKUT started off on defense and got two huge breaks. DKUT was on fire. Julia Cottle, Martha Baldwin, Matt Hogel, Chris Cowper-Smith, Graham Carey and Jackson Byrne dismantled Spawn's zone and man defense with exceptional patience and accurate throws.

However, without the work of O-line cutters John Snow, Fred Li, Erin McMahon, Shaina Partidge and Liza Shelley the disc would never had been in the endzone. Shaina Partidge was continuously open at the corners of the endzone and scored several points. John Snow was outstanding. Voting him as a co-captain for the 2010-2011 season looked to be an obvious choice after he made a crowd pleasing one-handed hammer grab while watching the sideline. DKUT ended up taking half 8-2.

Spawn were rejuvenated after half and broke twice to get the score to 8-4. DKUT switched things up and gave D-line an opportunity which they were dying for. Quick movement by Martha Baldwin and Bobo Eyrich opened up a huck to Colin Yeung who raced past his defender to toe the backline of the endzone for a score. The teams traded point for bit. DKUT's offense was unbelievably patient as they worked the disc back and forth, seeking an opening. Graham Carey hit a wide open Erin McMahon with a gorgeous scoober to get yet another break. Fred Li also had an amazing skying catch for the point as he just managed to land in bounds on the back corner. With such plays and intensity DKUT went on to win 11-7 for the first ever Fruitbowl win for DKUT.

Photos