2009 Low Point Challenge, Nottwil,
Switzerland
The London low point team returned to Nottwil to try and better the 4th place finish they had achieved the previous year. After a warm up game against fellow english team the "Low Riders" the day before the competition the team felt ready to go.
The first game to kick off this years challenge was against the Gaelic Warriors. London started well and had opened up an early lead of 9 points half way through the second quarter. The Irish team unwilling to just roll over and give up, came back fighting and managed to level the score by the end of the half. London dug in once more and by the end of the game had got back the lead they had originally created.
Game 2- London vs Rolling snakes
Unfortunately for the Snakes their key player Andreas Jurik was suffering from a fever and was unable to play in this game. This meant the Snakes were massively weakened and that London had a relatively easy game. The end result was a double figures win in Londons favour.
Game 3- Munich Rugbears
Toughest challenge so far, and the team that beat London in last years semi final. Featuring several well established international players to match London's this was going to be a tough test. London came out strong and the tough pressing game they employed from the start gave them an early two point cushion which Munich were unable to close. This win meant London topped group 1 with 3 wins and no losses and progressed to the semi's.
Semi final- Low Riders
This game again would be a tough one, both teams knew each other a little to well and weaknesses would be exposed, with bragging rights also on everyones mind. With less than a minute gone in the game London had forced the Riders to call two time outs and opened a two goal lead. Londons press continued to do damage and by half time the Riders had only one timeout left and were now 6 goals down. The game finished with London scoring 2 goals to the Riders 1 and a final to play the next day.
Final- Munich Rugbears
Munich had put their pool game defeat by London behind them and had beaten tournament favourites the Silent Lambs to force a rematch in the final.London employed the same tactics as they had in the previous meeting but found themselves in an unfamiliar position...... goals down ? Despite trying everything that had worked in previous games, London couldn't pin down the tricky Germans. Halftime came and London now 3 down decided to change .....nothing ? Confident that if they stuck to their fluid pressing game, it would pay off, London came out in the second half with all they had left. Sure enough the goal defecit crept down and London had moved into a two goal lead. Munich scored with 1 minute and 30 seconds left on the game clock to make it a 1 point game. London advanced the ball into the front court and took advantage of the lack of shot clock by keeping posession. Munich were unable to regain posession. London counted the seconds until the whistle that signalled the end of the game and London as Champions 2009.
