Reading Knights Korfball Club

After the long summer break, Korfball is back! We headed down to Southampton to sharpen skills prior to the start of the new season. First up was a well organised looking Basingstoke. To say our shooting was a little bit off target would be quite generous – lots of work needed on that at forthcoming training sessions (starting this Thursday by the way – see training info for details!). Despite this our work rate was good – and we kept the defence tight. However, we could not quite match them in attack and they ran out narrow victors 10-7.

After a much needed break to recover – more work needed on the fitness too, next up was Farnboough. We were able to use our experience to make scoring very difficult for them – the only problem was scoring ourselves. After a long stalemate we finally started to break through and take control of the match. After half time we started to relax and enjoy ourselves, scoring freely and remembering just what this game is all about! We won 12-5(ish – I can’t quite remember)

Thanks to Southampton for organising and well done to all who took part. Prepare yourselves – the new season is here! Training starts again October 4th at SportsPark – see you there!

Today was our last match of the season in the OKA, and after a couple of warmup games in Reading against Southampton and Woking, a rather tired looking bunch headed up to Oxford for the clash against ISIS.

Things started well and we split several ends early on, with nothing much to pick between the two teams. However, the extended warmup had clearly helped the shooting and some nice longshots from Elliot and drop offs from Stu gave us a 2 goal lead going into the break.

At half time they strengthened both divisions and the tempo of the game really picked up. Things got a little scrappy on our part, and they managed to convert a couple of chances to draw the scores all square with around 15 minutes to go. After a quick timeout to remind us to keep calm and and play are own game, things settled again and much needed goals from Nick and Fran gave us back a 2 goal advantage. However, they fought back once more and threatened to steal a point, getting back to within 1 with a few minutes to play. Cool heads were the order of the day and some solid defending kept them out. Things finished with us running out 13-12 winners.

A good team performance and much needed points in the league, well played everyone.
Goals: Elliot 6, Stu 4, Nick 2, Fran 1.

Confidence was high after our semi final result, but we knew the final would be a much closer encounter against the old rivals Oxford University.

We started slowly and quickly went a couple down. Despite manufacturing a steady stream of chances nothing was going in and their lead grew to 4-0 at one point. We got 1 back before half time but still had it all to do in the second half after going in to the break 5-1 down.

We were the better side in the 2nd, scoring first and then capitalising on the momentum to score 4 without reply and get ourselves right back in it. With 12 minutes to play we pulled ahead for the first time in the match, but this proved short lived as they quickly drew level again, The lead swapped hands several more times and a couple of missed penalties by them left us a lifeline. The final whistle went with the scores all square. Bring on golden goal extra time… an incredibly nervy 5 minutes with some excellent last minute defending by us ruling out a running in shot that they converted. Penalties were the only option left and Oxford claimed the OKA cup 3-2.

Well played everyone, a really gutsy performance where we never gave up and were oh so close to coming away with the silverware!

Penalty heartbreak for Reading!

Reading made a convincing showing in the OKA cup semi final against Abingdon 2 to win a place in the cup final! The match was abandoned with 5 minutes to play after an injury sustained by one of the Abingdon girls. At the time of the injury we were in front 26-3 after a dominant performance that saw goals from everyone in the team. We wish a speedy recovery to the player involved.

The final is on April 29th against Oxford University.

A fantastic team performance saw Reading triumph in the first Oxford korfball league match of the season, narrowly edging out an experienced Abingdon side 12-11.  After the customary travel related incidents we just about managed to get the whole side to Oxford in time for the clash. The warm up was all too brief and the long summer break and lack of regular training showed as we were a little wayward with our shooting and passing. However, come game time everyone stepped up their game and the ball handling was excellent and really helped us to maintain pressure and create chances. We managed to put away a decent number of these chances with Lucy M, Lucy P, Stu and Blaggy all getting on the scorecard early in the game.  At half time it was very close and we were 1 behind at 7-6.

In the second half the game stagnated for a time with us dominating in defence, but struggling to convert the chances in attack. Several ends were split 1 goal each, to keep them just ahead. Eventually we managed to make the consistent pressure tell and scored the 2 consecutive goals we needed to take the lead. It was only just in the nick of time too,  as seconds after Lucy M finished off a cheeky shot the final whistle blew. A solid team performance and a well deserved win – good job guys!