I calculated the relative strengths of the sections from the International Challenge games, and determined the relative strengths of the individual players. I used zero as the standard, so the lowest player was rated a zero, and all the other players were rated in comparison to the zero player(s). Across all the games of the tournament, using zero as the standard, the sections performed as if the players were rated: Continue reading »
There were 31 players that participated in the International Challenge that was held in the UK during the same time as the World Cup. The teams in the International Challenge were Europe, France, Germany, and Holland. I took stats off the videos, and the top 10% in my favorite 4 categories were:
Highest personal possession percentage:
57% – Barbara Beaufils FR
53% – Alexandra Deurinck FR
50 % – Leonie Rathmann GE, Maarten Luitse HO, and Nathalie Garben HO Continue reading »
I calculate relative strength of sections at all tournaments where I get results, and I can determine the relative strength to which the section performed, compared to all other sections in the division. At the World Cup, since the players on the sections changed so much I could calculate the relative strength of the section when that particular individual was playing.
For each combination of players on a section, I calculated how much that section scored compared to all the sections they played against. Then I calculated what each player’s performance number should be to make it as close to the way they performed as possible. I used ’0′ as the standard, so the player(s) who had the lowest performance numbers were considered 0, then all other players were rated in comparison to them. Since the men only played the men and the women only played the women, I calculated them separately. The men’s numbers have no relation to the women’s numbers and vice-versa. Continue reading »
I just counted the swings in World Cup game 15, USA v Zimbabwe.
There were a total of 37 swings at racquets. 8 of those swings (22%) got the ball out of the ball carrier’s racquet.
The team that was carrying the ball came back up with the ball 5 of those 8 times, so the ball only changed possession 8% of the time.
In 5 of the 37 swings, a penalty was called against the swinger, 14% of the time. Continue reading »
There were 32 women that played in the World Cup. The top 10% in my favorite 4 categories were:
Highest personal possession percentage:
SouthAfrica.info
Brad Morgan
21 July 2011
South Africa captured the Polocrosse World Cup title for the first time when they defeated neighbours Zimbabwe in the final at the Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre near Rugby in the United Kingdom on Sunday.
Both teams were undefeated heading into the final and both had beaten Australia, who had previously never lost a game at the World Cup, which was held Down Under in the first two editions in 2003 and 2007.
South Africa had finished third in both the 2003 and 2007 events, while Zimbabwe had finished fifth in 2007 and fourth in 2003.
For those not in the know, polocrosse is a combination of polo and lacrosse and the format features men and women playing alternate chukkas. It’s easy to understand and makes for a fantastic spectator sport.
Zimbabwean expectations
Much was expected of the Zimbabweans this time around, after they defeated a South African team full of capped internationals three-nil in a series in Johannesburg in early June. It was not, however, South Africa’s World Cup team.
Playing in the United Kingdom proved to be a test for the two southern African nations, who are used to dry conditions.
Heavy rains in the final created some muddy patches on the field, but South Africa adjusted especially well to them to run out convincing 29-18 winners after eight exciting chukkas.
For the record, South Africa’s World Cup winners were Gavin Cocker, Jossie Spilsbury, Graham MacLarty, Nikki Crook, Jan Albert Steenkamp, Celicia Jacobs, Nico Van Wyk, and Julie Royden-Turner.
‘Phenomenal’
“It was phenomenal, especially for Southern Africa,” to be playing Zimbabwe in the final, South African captain Gavin Cocker told SAinfo. “And to win it was the ultimate, a special moment.”
Jan Albert Steenkamp was in excellent form for South Africa in the title-decider and was later named the best male player of the tournament. The women’s award went to Kelly Redfearn of Zimbabwe.
South Africa had earned their place in the final with an excellent 25-11 victory over Australia in the semi-finals. Zimbabwe reached the title-decider with a 24-10 win over the USA.
It was in the game against the highly-fancied Australians that a huge turning point occurred, said Cocker.
‘After four chukkas, it was over’
“In the first two chukkas, our girls went down 3-0, but then pulled it back to 3-3. Our men then won their first chukka 5-0. After four chukkas, it was over, Australia weren’t going to come back from being so far down.”
Zimbabwe had earlier downed the Australians 21-12 in pool play. They also edged New Zealand 17-15 and saw off Zambia 22-10.
South Africa won their first two pool matches 19-9 over Ireland and 18-7 over the USA before sneaking past the UK 14-13 on a last-gasp goal by Graham MacLarty.
Australia dominated the USA in the clash for third place, romping to a 31-8 win, while New Zealand held on for a 20-19 victory over the UK in thee battle for fifth.
Visual skills
It was a World Cup win a long time in the making, explained Cocker. Work on the South African challenge began some nine or 10 months before the tournament and visual skills’ work with world-renowned Doctor Sheryl Calder was “very helpful”, he enthused.
At a World Cup, for health and safety reasons, players use borrowed horses which are put into pools and draws are then made for them. Adjusting to the horses is vital and this, too, was part of the South African team’s preparation, Cocker related.
“We got the horses into the right positions for the right riders and we were lucky that the horses suited our playing style.”
Stellar defence
Questioned about South Africa’s stellar defensive showing throughout the tournament – the 18 goals they gave up to Zimbabwe was by five the most they conceded in any game – Cocker again put it down to game planning for each side they faced.
Winning the World Cup is a “great opportunity” for South African polocrosse, he said. “People are excited and interest in the game is on the up. People who were doubters about South African polocrosse are now on board.
“It’s also good for Zimbabwe,” he said about the all-Southern African World Cup final and what it means for polocrosse in the region.
And with the next Polocrosse World Cup taking place in South Africa in 2015, the defending champions have plenty to look forward to, and to build towards.
August 20, 2011, Dallas, TX — When the final American Polocrosse Association USA team roster was announced in November, 2010, there was nothing short of serious dedication by the four men and four women as they prepared for the 2011 World Cup, which took place in July in Rugby, UK. Coach Jane Cooper, a two-time member of the Australian World Cup Champion team, expected nothing less and was an excellent motivator for team USA. The team members were expected to use their racquets on a daily basis, work on their physical fitness levels, ride as much as possible, and attend numerous tournaments. There were also many required team training camps along the way. Jane also stressed how important it was not only for the team members to be positive and united, but believe in themselves that they can win the World Cup. As the days grew closer to the commencement of the World Cup, the team’s main focus was to hit the ground running, by beating the 2007 World Cup Reserve Champions, the UK team, in the first game of the World Cup, and that they did! In the pouring down rain, the USA team pulled a huge upset for the home team with a final score of 17-12. After the game, many compliments from the polocrosse community were made to coach Cooper about the team’s ability to play smart polocrosse. Continue reading »
Polocrosse Extreme, Iain Heaton
Okay so we completely failed to deliver up to date scores, match reports or breaking news during the competition, mainly because our entire editorial team was either helping run the event or because they were slightly drunk (editor’s note: mainly the former but definitely the latter on the final night!). It will be a very different story for South Africa 2015 where we intend to just go and report live from the pitch-side for each match, we might even do some online streaming.
The World Cup’s website has got all the results and final placings and so the next best thing we thought we could do is write a review of the event, the matches, the teams, the horses and anything else we couple think of! So here goes: Continue reading »
Eddie Cross:
For all our troubles this is a great place to live and raise children. I was attending a birthday party for my grandson who has just turned 8, he had invited 29 little boys of his own age (no girls) and they had a “Pirate Party” organized by my daughter. Those boys had a great evening and some stayed over to sleep in tents on the lawn.
One of the parents, sitting on the stoep coined the phrase “marvelous Zimbabwe” as it was a beautiful evening, blue skies, about 25 c and no humidity. Nearby the national cricket team was busy beating Bangladesh in a 5 days test at the Harare Sports Club – a great Dutch style complex of green grass and bars in the center of town, next to the magnificent Royal Harare Golf Course. I recalled meeting a businessman in London who said to me (we had just won the ICC Trophy) “there is nothing wrong with a country that can play first class cricket!” In a way he had a point. Continue reading »
Dear All,