Portsmouth Tchoukball Club

For the second year running, the STL (Southern Tchoukball League) had eight teams in the knockout

tournament for the STL Cup. Will last year’s Champions FAST hold onto their trophy or will they be

knocked out in the first round?

The Quarter Finals were held on 06/02/2011, and after all team names were pulled out of a hat, the

2010/2011 STL Cup tournament began.

The match scores were as follows:

FAST 50 : 30 Bournemouth University

Portsmouth Ladies 56 : 45 Portsmouth Men 2

Southampton University 58 : 48 Portsmouth University

Solent Rhinos 55 : 50 Portsmouth Men 1

After a terrific display at the Quarter Finals, the Semi Finals were held on 06/03/2011. With four

teams left in the running, all wanting the trophy, they eagerly awaited to find out who they would be

playing against.

The match scores were as follows:

FAST 58 : 45 Southampton University

Solent Rhinos 66 : 60 Portsmouth Ladies

For the last two years the dominant teams have been FAST and Solent Rhinos. On 12/06/2011 the

STL Cup Final would see FAST and Solent Rhinos come head to head once again. Would FAST be able

to keep their undefeated streak, or could Solent Rhinos take the STL Cup away from them?

The first period began with Solent Rhinos taking the back line ball giving it to Kevin Fowler who

quickly assessed where the FAST players were and passed to Jason Harris who scored the first point.

Both teams were evenly matched with some great point scoring by Solent Rhinos’ Jamie Atrill and

Dean Piggott, but keeping them in the game was the great defending from FAST’s James Clarke along

with Paul Flemington’s quick shooting.

The first period ended with FAST just ahead 15 to 14.

After a short break the second period began with FAST in possession. You could tell that Solent

Rhinos meant business. Using their experience, they moved FAST around with long balls between

Andy Wolfe and Lyall Cairns to score some well deserved points. FAST lost the lead until they

stepped it up a gear with some excellent second line defence work from Alex Prain and the deadly

accuracy and power of shots by Pat Dennis.

The whistle sounded for the end of the second period. FAST managed to hold onto their lead with

the score at 33 to 29.

Solent Rhinos began the final period with some fast paced movement by centre pivot Jason

Longhurst and bringing on fresh players Paul Hickey, Simon Cramer and Chris Sherwood. This, along

with Cliff Jenner’s defending, was looking like Solent Rhinos could bring it back by exploiting FAST’s

tiredness. From out of nowhere, FAST’s Stu Blakemore and Rob Ellis began an outstanding

partnership of quick defending and fast shoot backs to help extend their lead until the end whistle.

The final score was:

FAST 56 : 48 Solent Rhinos

It has been a great season for FAST winning both the Southern Tchoukball League and the STL Cup.

Nationally, they have also won the Bury Plate and the Tchoukball UK National League. This makes

FAST the first team who has won all four events.

Pictured above is the STL Cup sitting on a FAST Tchoukball Club jersey.