The VB Cup, hosted by Falun Diggers, and held just outside Falun in Svärdsjö provided a weekend of endless car travel, some moderate partying, an american-esque diet, injuries, celebrity-saving,late-night bonfiring, ski-jump frivolities and not least a pretty good football tournament. No VB though!We were pitted against Bromma and Södermalm in the group stage. We saw off the Bromma Vikings comfortably in the first game but it lashed it down so it left us pretty damn cold for the rest of the day. Luckily we were spared any more rain during our other matches.
Next up were Södermalm in a very competitive game. The lead switched back and forth between the teams and Port led until a shocking bounce completely deceived Tony Persson at full-back allowed the Blues full-forward to goal with a mere 20 seconds remaining. This meant a 3-point victory for the Stockholm outfir and pushed Port Malmö into third in the ladder.
Third spot meant a quarter-final against the Karlstad Eagles, led by former Port Malmö player Jörg Pareigis. The Eagles fought valiantly and showed some encouraging skills but are still on the learning curve and a relatiely simple victory meant a semi-final against the third Stockholm team and last years winners, Solna.
The reigning champions sat out the quarters after topping the ladder and the freshness told in the first half as they opened up a decent lead. Port Malmö founds themselves down to 10 ‘fit’ players after just a few minutes of the semi having begun the day with 14. Having already lost Tony McLoughlin to a hamstring injury and Dave Verngren to a badly cut knee that required stitches (Adam Brown volunteering to drive him to hospital) a misguided shepherd and unfortunately placed head meant Dave Page-Brown was also out for the game. Malmö fought back but could not kick the goal required to sneak the game, again going down by 3 points.
Solna beat Södermalm, who had earlier ended Scanian hopes by beating Helsingborg in the 2nd semi, in a close final. So the Axemen went back-to-back. Congratulations to them and to all teams that managed to drag themselves up to Dalarna for the tournament. Great thanks to Cameron Crooks and the Diggers for organising a fantastic football event.
Back to the bread-and-butter of SAFL and DAFL for us now with a SAFL game tomorrow between Limhamn Lions and Malmö Red Eyes followed by another road-trip up to Jutland on Saturday.
I have been on alot of footy trips and this ranks up there with the best! And lets not forget about the midgets for Dave Oz and the two hits that Tony P. laid on those lads, they were a thing of beauty.
Well done to all who participated and hope the tournament continues in a successful fashion. Huge thanks to Dave Oz, Tony P. and Paul for driving!!
Thanks Taff and once again, what an effort by Port Malmö, and Helsingborg as well, to show up with 14 people! Leading by example! Too bad you didn’t go all the way! Would be interesting to see the regional match between Stockholm and you – should be a VERY, VERY decent level of footy!
Great write up again and a good effort to win a final…pity you couldn’t get over the line in the semi-though. Sounds like a few sore heads, perhaps not for the same reasons as last year!