Summer 5-a-side soccer over for another season

The annual Matamata Swifts social summer 5-a-side competition concluded last night with a highly successful knock-out cup night.

Team Uruguay wrapped up the double with a golden goal win in the final against The Firm (pictured left). The only goal of the game game in the third period of extra time when Rodrigo Navarro smashed the ball home from just outside the goal area. This sparked wild scenes of jubilation from his team mates in front of a large crowd that seemed to favour the vanquished side. Earlier in the evening Team Uruguay had navigated their way through two penalty shoot-outs to ensure their place in the final. The Firm also won their semi-final following a dramatic shoot-out win over the Grogsters.

The previous week, the final of the ten-week league season, the talented Uruguayans beat the Grogsters 4-2 to ensure they won the A Grade championship. In one of the closest competitions in years, Team Uruguay were the most consistent of all the teams that stood a chance of taking the honours. Only a few points covered the top six teams, which led a series of close, competitive and, at times, fiesty, matches. Team Uruguay, made up of members of the local immigrant community from the small South American country, were worthy winners. We hope to see most, if not all of these players turning out for the club during the 2005 winter season.

It was a close run thing in the B Grade championship as well. After leading the league for all but a few games, MBC fell at the final hurdle, allowing OCC to sneak past them on the final game of the final night. Sponsored by the newly opened Open Country Cheese Company, and containing staff members from that business, OCC contained two members of the 2004 Swifts 1st team squad (Bevan Shelley and Joe Alves) along with some willing and able newcomers.

We congratulate all the winners and thank everyone who took part. It was particularly pleasing to see the many businesshouse teams involved in the two social grades and the enjoyment they took out of their involvement.

Full list of winners

LEAGUE

A Grade
Winners: Team Uruguay
Runners-up: Grogsters

B Grade
Winners: OCC
Runners-up: MBC

C Grade
Winners: Up In Smoke

KNOCK-OUT

Cup
Winners: Team Uruguay
Runners-up: The Firm

Plate
Winners: Old Boys
Runners-up: OCC

C Grade Knock-out
Winners: RD1
Runners-up: Krusty Krabs





A bit of biff in the Knock-out semi final between Team Uruguay and T&C Drifters.



John Van Gog, of the Grogsters, slots home a penalty in the shoot-out loss to The Firm.



Team Uruguay take on Confuso in the final match of the A Grade competition. The match finished 0-0.



Scott Hudson fires home for T&C Drifters against Woftam in an A Grade match.