WFDF 2008 World Ultimate & Guts Championships

Presented by Russell Brewing

The bronze medal match between Team Australia (Barramundis) and Team USA (Shazam Returns) was sure to be another good battle. I say another because they met back on Day 1 of Worlds when they put on a great show for the crowd on the showcase field #1. Team USA won that battle, but only by a margin of 3 points. They started the game strong and rattled the Aussies with a big first half lead. The Barramundis figured things out and made a strong comeback in the second half, but it was too little too late and the 2007 UPA Champions walked away with the victory.

Both teams had heart-breakers in their respective semi-final matches. Team USA lost to Team Canada despite beating them the day before by a margin of one single point. Team Australia was at 10-10 against Team Japan when the soft-cap was announced. Unfortunately for the Barramundis, however, Team Japan would score the next two points and earn a spot in the Mixed Championship game.

Now out of Gold/Silver contention, both these teams were VERY KEEN on finishing the tournament with a spot on the podium and a bronze medal in hand. The game started with Team USA on defense, and Australia successfully scored the first goal of the match. Team USA would score the next two points though, earning them the first break point of the game. Each team would score another point before I had paper in hand to start keep track of stats. Score: Team Australia 2 - 3 Team USA

Team Australia on offense and looking for the equalizer, they would instead give Team USA a chance at another break point when Sebastian Barr's (#28) pass to Gaby Melo (#33) had a little too much mustard on it. Shazam would make a mistake of their own though, when they dropped the disc right on their own endzone line. The Mundis quickly capitalized on this mistake when James Yorston (#8) fired a short pass to Peter Blakeley (#23) for the goal. Score: Team Australia 3 - 3 Team USA

Despite the breeze, Team Australia stuck with man defense. And it was good defense because Team USA really had to work the disc with accuracy and precision in order to avoid the turnover. They eventually scored the point when Eddie Feeley (#9) came up with a tough catch from the pass delivered by Pam Kraus (#51). Score: Team Australia 3 - 4 Team USA

Team Australia would score the next goal to equalize, and almost got the disc back when Christopher Freise's (#22) layout almost resulted in a big D. However, it was not quite enough and Team USA would score the point. Score: Team Australia 4 - 5 Team USA

The Barramundis would answer though, when John Damiani (#2) came up HUGE with a spectacular, crowd-pleasing layout catch off a big huck into the endzone. Team USA would again continue the point trading by scoring themselves. Score: Team Australia 5 - 6 Team USA

The point trading would halt, however, on the very next point. Leanne King's (#9) handling skills had been top-notch all tournament, and she continued to impress when she got off a great break-force throw to Stephen Wealands (#77) for a nice gain. But Stephan's huck to Sebastian Barr is miscommunicated (Seb faked deep and came under), and results in an interception D by USA's Ayron Jones (#25). USA would score the break point eliciting chants of "AUS! AUS! AUS!" from the Australian supporters. Score: Team Australia 5 - 7 Team USA

Team Australia had to score the next point twice after their first goal was called back by USA's Eric Mattson (#1). Shazam would quickly answer with a score of their own, however, and the game would reach the time-capped halftime.

Halftime Score: Team Australia 6 - 8 Team USA

At this point in the game, both teams have played 19 halves throughout the entire WUGC tournament. With only one more half to go, the team that could muster up the most energy and intensity was going to win this game. And at the start of the second half, it seemed that team was none other than Shazam Returns.

Starting off on defense, Team Australia earned the disc straight away with a layout D by Rebecca Carman (#34). If they could score we would have been looking at a one point game that could go in either direction. But instead a dropped pass from Christopher Freise to Max Wheeler (#7) would result in the disc going back to the hands of Team USA who would score the goal. Definitely a missed opportunity by the Barramundis. Score: Team Australia 6 - 9 Team USA

The agony would continue for Team Australia as they turned the disc over once again when a huck from Stephen Wealands to John Damiani ends up being a bit out of reach despite John's layout with a few fingers on the disc. Team USA worked the disc into the endzone for yet another break point score. It looked as though the Mundis were growing weary and couldn't find the fire within. Score: Team Australia 6 - 10 Team USA

Team USA would score another break point with a beautiful pass from Jonathan Loeffler (#20) down the sideline to Mickey Thompson (#10). Feeling the game slipping away from them, the Barramundis called a timeout in hopes of refocusing and regrouping. It seemed to have worked as they would finally score their first point of the second half despite a force return man defense by Team USA. Score: Team Australia 7 - 11 Team USA

The loss of focus and energy was prominently displayed on the next point when the Barramundis pulled the disc out-of-bounds around mid-field giving Shazam great field advantage to start the point. But Team USA's Tim Laverty (#16) would turn the disc over with a throw away down the sideline. The Barramundis worked the disc with ease and scored the goal for a break point of their own. Score: Team Australia 8 - 11 Team USA

Team Australia would do it again when they punished the dropped swing pass by Jonathan Loeffler to Steve Finn with another break point score. Fearing Team Australia had new life and vigor (especially with the loud support from the Australian fans), Team USA called a timeout to regroup. Score: Team Australia 9 - 11 Team USA

It must have worked because even though Team Australia's Adam Mortimer (#3) fired off a wicked blade pull deep into Team USA's endzone, Shazam worked the disc upfield with patience and focus until finally Eddie Feeley (#9) put up a sweet floating pass to Jane Kaufman (#4) for the 20 yard score. Score: Team Australia 9 - 12 Team USA

The next point would see some controversy when the pass from Australia's Gaby Melo (#33) to Leanne King (#9) was questioned as being completed. Did it hit the ground first or not? After much discussion, the disc was sent back to Gaby and play was restarted. USA's Mike Schwindeller (#41) came up with a great interception D on a miscommunicated pass and Team USA would score their first break point of the second half. Score: Team Australia 9 - 13 Team USA

At this point, Team USA attempted to mix things up by switching to a 4-2-1 zone defense. After a big pull that landed hard and went through the legs of Australia's Sebastian Barr (#28), Team USA was able to set their zone with Australia possessing the disc deep in their own endzone. But Team Australia would make quick work of shredding the zone when after two passes the disc was sent long by Al Don (#0) to Lee Baker (#27) for the goal. Score: Team Australia 10 - 13 Team USA

The Barramundis decided to stick with man defense, letting each player attempt to win their own one-on-one battle. It seemed to have worked as the frustrated Team USA turned the disc over (despite working it all the way downfield) when Pam Kraus (#51) sent a disc too far down the sideline and out of Jon Ladd's (#5) reach. Australia's Adam Mortimer would eventually fire off a 3/4 field huck to a streaking Christopher Freise for a big gain and a quick timeout. The Aussies would make good use of the timeout call by scoring the break point shortly thereafter. Score: Team Australia 11 - 13 Team USA

Team USA would answer when Steve Finn's (#7) cross field pass to Megan Zdancewic (#42) would result in a score, despite the layout attempt by Australia's Lucy Stevenson (#10). Score: Team Australia 11 - 14 Team USA

The next point saw multiple turnovers by each team. Some were unforced while others were earned (including a big D by Australia's Al Don). Eventually Team Australia's Lee Baker (#27) would find Rebecca Carman (#34) for the leading pass score. Score: Team Australia 12 - 14 Team USA

With the soft cap now in place, the stage was set. Team USA needed just 2 more points to win. Team Australia needed 4. The Barramundis would earn the next point bringing the game to within 1 point amid the loud cheering of the Aussie fans. However, despite having chances at scoring the equalizer, Team Australia would fail in their comeback bid and Team USA would rise to the occasion and win the bronze medal.

Final Score: Team Australia 13 - 16 Team USA

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