To the Essex Sports Arena! To watch some volleyball! And basketball!
But we managed to balls it up. Bugger.
My diary said women’s volleyball at 2pm, men at 4pm. I thought we would catch the men at 4pm, and then hang around for the women’s basketball at 6:30pm. Sports Billy, etc.
We rocked up at the Arena and it was absolutely empty, apart from some fuss ball nets covering all the courts. Most odd.
Ah. Betcha there is some fuss ball tournament, and the volleyball and basketball are on in the Sports Hall next door. The Rebs had already mailed us to say this is where the basketball would be taking place.
My timing as ever, was incredibly fashionably late. The volleyball net was being taken down, with both games having already been played - midday and 2pm, innit.
Oh well. We only have another two and a half hours to kill on campus in out of term time before the basketball begins. It would have been a right pain in the arse to make the half hour walk back home, settle for a short while, and then head out again.
We swerved the SU Bar, and went for the grown up choice of the rather lovely green eco coffee place, that popped up next door a few years ago. An hour and a half was spent slurping hot chocolate and cream, whilst scrolling football updates.
Finally the Rebs were ready for us in the Sports Hall. This now feels like a strange venue to watch elite level basketball. The University needed to build the Essex Sports Arena to step up. Games inside here suggest an organisation on the up, rather than playing in an old 80’s sports hall.
This was the exact same location where I sat my undergrad exams some 35 years ago. It’s where I was first introduced to the idea of aerobics for a very temporary time period, plus also the scene of my last sending off in football.
We took up our positions on the front row, just as the Rebs were starting their warm ups an hour ahead of tip off. It was a very different viewing experience. Even during the warm up, you got to experience the speed and physicality of the players.
Tip off came, with the Rebs playing Caledonian Gladiators in a Cup Quarter Final. I lose track of the different competitions and formats. But we played the same team just before Christmas in a Cup semi. Gladiators left with a victory. These games are developing into quite a strong rivalry.
The first half was scrappy, played out at an intense pace from both teams. The passes were there, but there was no holding back with some of the ball play and interceptions. I ended up with a Rebs player almost sitting on my lap after one particularly tasty encounter.
Rebs took a 25-24 lead into the first quarter buzzer, hinting at the tightness of the contest that was to come. This was pretty much mirrored with a 49-48 lead at HT.
We noticed after the break that the Gladiator players all had what looked like a bicycle light on each trainer. On closer inspection - we were on the front row - and it became clear that these were GPS trackers. This is a VERY professional league.
Gladiators finally pulled away in the third. Everything seemed to sink for them. Rebs played well, but the baskets just weren’t landing. Rebs were up against it, heading into the 4th trailing 84-67.
It all got a little nasty, both on the court and on the bench. I’m surprised no one was fouled out of the game. Gladiators were deserving of their 108-84 road win.
