DMU Korfball taster session during Sports Fest 2014
The first game for DMU as a fully SU affiliated club was hotly anticipated – a successful recruitment drive (which is very much an ongoing process) over Freshers’ Week saw a record level of attendance at the taster sessions and, more importantly, a higher than ever retention level. Weeks of training alongside the senior Leicester City squad were leading up to this East Midlands Korfball League Division 2 opener against the newly added Birmingham City 3.
Captain Shaffiq Bobzi lined up alongside new additions Owen Hinkson, Harrie Roche, Beth Smith, Hannah Tipping and Jake Pietrzyk, as well as last year’s players Ruari O’Connor (club Secretary) and Myrna Johnson. The attitude at DMU has always been that if you join the club and want to play, you will. Throughout the game the club used rolling subs bringing on Aiden Cevitt, Kieran Lacy and Joe Douglas, as well as the club Chair and Treasurer, James Parsonage and Justyna Manciewicz.
With the backing (and on court help) of some of Birmingham’s senior players, Birmingham showed their dominance against such an inexperienced DMU team. But they would not be going quietly into that good night – good pressure in defence and some clever interchange in attack so the home side end the first half just 4 goals adrift of BC3 – 3-7 (Shaffiq (2) and Owen (1) with the goals).
Birmingham pressed their advantage but with the more experienced DMU players encouraging and directing the new recruits it was hard going for Birmingham. What the second half failed to deliver in goals it more than delivered in entertainment. With all DMU players growing in confidence and ability, just 5 Birmingham goals were added to the half-time score with the final whistle blowing as the score turned to 13-3.
Although the result will have surprised few – most of these guys had never heard of korfball before six weeks ago! – the basis for the rest of the season is a solid one to build on and with support from both the DMU executive and the senior Leicester City team, DMUKC’s first official season looks to be a promising one!
DMUKC vs. Birmingham City 3
@ Queen Elizabeth 2 Leisure Centre, 30th November 2014
Next fixture: University of Nottingham (4); 6th November 2014 @ Queen Elizabeth 2 Leisure Centre; 8.15pm
