I donÃt know what it is about Ballon Ballai but every time I see seasonnaires sliding around an icerink while waving a broom at a miniature football I cannot fail to smile.
This year we had teams from
Inghams, Pleasure holidays,
Scott Dunn(3),
Kalico(3), New Gen(2), Ski Physios to name just a few. This year instead of just a straight knockout system the teams started in groups of three, with only the top two going through to the final elimination stages. This guaranteed every team played at least two matches which was lucky as some teams had the same aptitude on ice as a disney cartoon fawn. For those who were unable to attend, each match (except the final) lasted 3 minutes and if finished in a draw was followed by a female penalty shoot out. One girl from each team starting at their own end rush the opposite open goal and the first to score wins.
One of the first to try this out (successfully) was Kate(
Scott Dunn) who made up for the incompetent men in her team.
In one of the first matches the ski physios took on the Refuge where two very differing styles of play were shown. The ìrun-fall-slide-knock over anyone in front of youî method demonstrated by George compared to ìhang around the opposition goal and franticly but futilely swipe at the ballî of the Gallen sisters. Somehow this second style proved slightly more successful with the refuge ending the game victorious.
After a health dose of pier pressure Lizzie(
Kaluma) stepped into the breach to defend the reigning champions, the magic mushrooms, goal. In a moment of genius she caught the ball between her legs, something she has apparently been practicing with Sammy G, only to have it illegally knocked into the goal giving the victory to Pleasure holidays.
By the time of the final most of the spectators had left, leaving only supporters of the two teams. After an extended 5 minutes of play the score remained goalless. It continued into an extra 2 minutes of play only for New Gen to fire two goals past their opposition and put any chance of
Scott Dunn lifting the trophy out of reach.
A special ìbambiî award should go to the
Kalico whose three teams managed to finish last, second last and third last, quite an achievement.
