:: 21s UK Tour Diary6-11-2011
Results:
Singapore 21&U 68 - 20 Northern Ireland U17
Singapore 21&U 45 - 27 Northern Ireland U21B
Singapore 21&U 53 - 37 Northern Ireland U21A
Singapore 21&U 34 - 49 Wales U21
Singapore 21&U 43 - 39 Wale U19
Singapore 21&U 40 - 46 Wales U21
Read about the 21s UK Tour here!
Today we started off quite standard with our usual routine of an early rise and breakfast, followed by training. We had a main focus for training and that was to work on tight one-on-one defense. Along side that we had the middies practicing front cuts, shooters analyzing previous games and the whole team also working on a zone defense. After training it was back to the Wales Sport Institute to shower, have lunch and get shopping!
We were all back early to give our feet a rest before the long and sleepy journey to the game. We started with an amazing first quarter (the best one throughout the tour) that ended with us in a 5-goal lead. At the end of the second quarter we began to dip, which followed throughout the whole of the third quarter, resulting in us behind the Wales team. We got our heads together in the fourth quarter, fighting until the last whistle but unfortunately time was not on our side and we lost with a final score of 40-46.
Despite the loss, the team was very happy and satisfied with the game. We made the Welsh team have to fight hard for their victory and we were pleased as we managed to achieve our goals of closing the final score gap and keeping to tight one-on-one defense.
After the game it was time for our final ice baths (thank god) and a hearty reception hosted by the Welsh team - Might I add that Bai was very (very) happy with the food (halal and plenty of it!). We then embarked on the journey back to our hostel where some hit the hay and others competed in a late night game of Monopoly deal.
The final day was much anticipated with a guided tour through the Cardiff Castle, followed by a very cold and windy bus tour on the ‘Hop on, Hop off’ sightseeing bus. After our cultural exposure, we headed off to do last minute shopping and experienced the Christmas cheer in the city (it was wonderful, with real Reindeer, lights and Christmas carols). We concluded that fine day with a much missed (by some) Singaporean cuisine before the tiresome chore of packing our luggage (good luck Charmaine…).
Bai & Shelby
Day: We’re enjoying the UK too much to keep track of the days. 8 Nov, Tues.
Weather: Cool and great despite the random drizzle
Reported by: Room 309, Su & Shoes
We started the day with a typical Welsh Institute of Sports (WIS) breakfast; eggs, baked beans, bread, cereal, yoghurt and fruits. Sounds a bit much but athletes do need to keep their energy up. We were then driven to the training ground by the various Welsh officials who had their cars with them and hence, spared from the cold 20 minutes walk to training. Got to love the Welsh hospitality. And yes we were very grateful for their kind gestureJ
Training progressed as usual and the highlight for the session was that we FINALLY have a new master shooter. Kwok Shuyi has stolen the master shooter crown from Natalie Long, who has held on to that title for the longest time. And FYI, our dearest Shuyi happens to be a midfielder. Who said only shooters could shoot?
The day went on as usual in beautiful Cardiff. Oh and did we mention that we stay about 10 minutes, walking time, from shopping haven and a castle! On top of that, part of that walk, involves walking through one of the most beautiful parks most of us have ever seen. Life is wonderful.
So the most important part of the day was about to begin. And all the girls went through their own pre-match preparation. Game time. Today’s match was against Wales U19s. The game was intense and definitely nail biting. But when push came to shove, the girls managed to dig deep and fight hard, bagging our first win in Wales with a tight score line of 43-39. Kudos to all of us! And may tomorrow bring equal success.
Before we end off, we’d like to extend our gratitude to our awesome physiotherapist, David, who has helped so many of us with our injuries, taping and other ailments that we, sportswomen, face. We have grown to be quite fond of him, some, clearly more than others. You know who you are girls. And lastly, a quick shout out to Cheryl Ann Lee who had cut her tour short due to upcoming examinations. You were an asset to the team and the country and your presence on and off the court will be missed! Ace those papers!
Day 5: November 6, 2011, Sunday
TRAVEL DAY!
The day started with us feeling more relaxed since it was a day without any court training or game. Morning was spent packing our luggage after savouring the last breakfast meal at the Premier Inn. We bid goodbye to the friendly staff at the inn and headed towards the airport for our 3pm flight to Cardiff, Wales.
Most of us fell asleep on the plane quickly because we were just so tired waiting around for the plane but an hour later we were awakened by the bumpy landing. We arrived at Cardiff close to 5pm and with the beautiful sunset across the sky, we made our way to Welsh Institute of Sports, our accommodation here at Cardiff.
This place has got an old-school feeling which provides a whole new living experience that we’re sure we’ll remember for life. We were extremely hungry and we couldn’t wait any longer for dinner. We quickly settled into our rooms and headed down to the dining hall for dinner. It was as if we were back in school, where we had to queue up for our food, which we haven’t been doing so back in Lisburn. Food was yummy! Home-cooked, J and some of us could finally enjoy having rice for a staple instead of pasta and potatoes!
We decided to rest early tonight as we prepare and recharge for a challenging day ahead - meeting our Welsh opponents!
Sharon and Hin Ann
Day 4: November 5, 2011 Saturday
Before we know it, today is already the end of day 4, concluding the first half of our training tour.
We had a light training session in the morning to give our bodies some rest as we had already been playing two games in a row for the past two days. Also, the game was held early afternoon instead, unlike the previous two games.
After morning’s training, we went to Drayne’s farms, one of the largest dairy farms in Northern Ireland. We are thankful and lucky to have a free visit to the farm offered by the team manager of the Northern Ireland 21 & U Team even though they do not work on Saturdays. It is an eye opener for most of us, to have a closer look into how they process cow milk with the latest technology. Indeed, after the visit, we definitely have a bigger picture of how the farm actually operates. Naturally, we took a lot of photos with the cows.
In the afternoon, it was time to face the NI 21 & U team A. We started a different line up and settled into the game much faster as compared to the previous match. This time round, we ended well with a convincing win of 53 - 37, leaving us extremely satisfied.
And with that, the first part of the tour has definitely boosted our morale and confidence with 3/3 wins.
Lastly we ended off the day with a little shopping at Victoria Square, a popular tourist destination. We were disappointed the shops close at 6pm in the city. But nevertheless, we did manage to walk around the city, chilled out at cafes and enjoy the EMA MTV event, which was ongoing in Belfast.
Yours truly,
Meiling and Cass
P.S Today’s weather is so much colder than the past few days with the surroundings starting to become foggy.
Day3: November 4, 2011 Friday
Today is the third day and the busiest since we arrived in Belfast city. The temperature is 4 Degree Celsius. The weather has yet to be so cold compared to the other days. Although the temperature was low, the sun brightens up our mood, as it has been cloudy the past few days.
It was also a very special day, as the heartwarming host welcomed us with a reception. We came to realize that the players were all very young although they were from the under 21s. We had light refreshment prepared by them followed by a welcome speech from the directors of board as well as the president of Netball Northern Ireland. We exchanged our emails and took photos with the players as remembrance. They are really friendly people who are willing to share more about their cultures and attractions to us.
In the evening, we had a game against the Northern Ireland’s Under 21 team B. The game started off pretty shaky. It was much more difficult compared to the game we played against the under 17s yesterday. At the end of first quarter, we were only up by a goal. However, after much encouragement and support from our coaches and teammates, we managed to pull ourselves up and gain composure, bringing the score difference further apart. With that, we concluded the game with a score line of 45 - 27, winning the second game of the tour.
Every one in the team worked hard and contributed to the victory. By the time we arrived at our “home”, everyone was deadbeat. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Till then, good night all you earthly creatures!
Much love,
Pamela and Charmaine
Day 2: November 3, 2011 Thursday
6:50am, the players of the 21 & Under Singapore National Team receive their morning calls from the receptionist at Premier Inn. Today marks the official first day of our UK tour. All-settled in the day before, we were all pumped up and ready to tackle the challenges we would face today. No day can begin without a hearty breakfast. Amongst the array of food in the continental buffet spread, there were delicious croissants. Shu Yi wanted hers to be warm, so she stuffed it in the toaster, even though there was a sign that clearly warned us not to, and the croissant came out with a black burnt top.
After breakfast we set off for our first training where we just got stuck into it and everyone was focused on what we were supposed to do in preparation of our game later on that night.
11:30am, back to the hotel for lunch at Irish Linen Table, Premier Inn’s restaurant. We waited for the food for ages but it was all worth the wait. Brief meeting following lunch, and free time commenced at 3:30pm. Some of us took the time off for some R&R, others travelled down the road for some comfort shopping.
4:55pm, we all gathered at Siti’s room for a game briefing. Robin went round in a circle, zooming in on strengths and points for improvements for each of the players. Quick pre-game snack of sandwiches and cream of mushroom soup and in no time we were off to Lisburn Racquet Club for our match against Northern Ireland’s 17 & Under team.
The game started off shakily at first with Singapore just winning marginally in the first quarter. Subsequently we got our bearings and under the aegis of Robin and Po Chin we managed to pull back the score quarter-on-quarter. All in all we won convincingly 68-20. We played with gusto and this game bodes well for the many games that await us in the days to come.
The good day ends off at Irish Linen Table again with some Bolognese pasta and a humongous potato each. Following dinner we retire to our rooms for a well-earned rest, concluding day two of our UK tour.
Above: Mel brandishes her spanking new bodysuit
Melody Teo & Cheryl Ann Lee
Day 1: November 2, 2011 Wednesday
The night was filled with excitement as we prepared ourselves for a long journey ahead (approximately 24 hours!). We transited at Dubai International Airport, followed by a 6/7-hour flight to Birmingham Airport. While waiting in line for the very slow customs officers to clear us, we were joined by the famous LMFAO crew, who were possibly joining us in Belfast for the EMA’s? Unfortunately we didn’t manage to get a snap with them because there was no time to spare as we were rushing for our next flight to Belfast. Despite the short, 1-hour, bumpy flight, it was a naptime for everyone trying to fight off the fatigue. Everyone was excited/happy/relieved to have finally reached our destination and stepped out into the cold Ireland air. After reaching the Premier Inn, we dumped our bags and headed for dinner at 2am Singapore time! (Dessert was really good...)
After dinner it was free and easy, with some players battling it out with cards and others crashing for the night.
Bai & Shelby