Priestley Cup Champions 2003
 
 
 
 

- :: MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY :: -
 
 
 

THE TEAM

MATCH REPORTS
- by Richard Wardle

First up was a clash of the titans - BMRC versus CSIRO. The determination of CSIRO to defend their trophy was evident
from the start. Faced with a BMRC team depleted due to a brutal Friday evening training session, the CSIRO players
were like the first scientists who studied fog - mistified.  The game ended in a 1-1 tie but the highlight of the match was
the strange, cardigan-wearing, bearded man who insisted on standing in the middle of the field. The referree even
stopped the game and declared "CSIRO, you have too many on the pitch!". Maybe there is some truth to the rumour that CSIRO scientists are like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts...

Meanwhile, the battle between Monash and Melbourne ended sweetly for the home team with a 3-1 win. The game was a steep learning curve for the Monash players but they took the loss in good humour and proved that applied mathematicians are
different to statisticians in that they don't say "mean" things!

Next, Monash started quickly taking a 2-0 lead against CSIRO before the defending champs attempted to be like old weatherman - trying reign forever, by winning 4-3. Meanwhile, in the other match BMRC dominated the first half against Melbourne Uni taking in a 1-0 halftime lead. However, the second half showed that the Melbourne Uni players were younger, fitter, and better looking who tied up the game which finished all square at 1-1. This match is still undergoing an internal inquiry here at Melbourne Uni since one of its players (currently on leave from BMRC) should have won the game for the academics. However, he suspicously (ie. defying the laws of physics) missed an open goal with seconds to go...

The next clash was between Melbourne Uni and CSIRO, with the victor assured to win the prestigious cup (and, more importantly, bragging rights). For Bob Cechet, the CSIRO goalkeeper, this was no cinderella story - he never missed the ball! In the end though, Melbourne Uni was finally able to break down the CSIRO defense and ran out 2-0 winners to win the trophy for the first time.

Q:What do you call a BMRC scientist in a game that determines the Priestley Cup? A: The referee! BMRC stayed true to form and finished runners-up again even though they beat Monash 4-3 thanks to a Kevin Tory hat-trick. Afterwards, some barbequed food, drinks and a little converstion (mostly about the strange guy invading the CSIRO-BMRC game) brought an end to a thoroughly enjoyable and tiring evening.

Round 2

Monash University	3	Melbourne University	1
CSIRO	4	Bureau of Meteorology	1

Round 3

Melbourne University	2	Bureau of Meteorology	4
CSIRO	0	Monash University	3

	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Points
Melbourne University	3	2	1	0	6	2	7
Bureau of Meteorology	3	1	2	0	6	6	5
CSIRO	3	1	1	1	5	5	4
Monash University	3	0	0	0	7	11	0