Titans Represented at EU Cup 2009

The 2009 EU Cup took place in Samobor, Croatia on the first weekend of October and the Titans again had 3 players competing.  However this year instead of having 3 players representing the 2008 Championship England Dragonslayers, we had 2 players on the English team and one on the newly formed Irish Exiles team.Martyn Hinchey and Mark Todd both represented England in last years EU Championship side and this year Eoin Moynihan would be making his first EU Cup appearance for the Irish Exiles.The English team got off to a quick start making short work of the Czech Republic side, winning 15-8(98) to 6-4(40).  The Irish side on the other hand fell in their first match to the EU Crusaders, 6-9(45) to 8-5(53).England continued on its merry way with Todd playing in the forward line and Hinchey anchoring the defence, comfortably beating Andorra 17-5(107) to 8-3(51) in an impressive display of accurate kicking.  In pool D, the Irish team had the bye and then opened their account with a win over Spain, in a very close battle, 10-8(68) to 10-7(67) with Moynihan slotting a goal for the Exiles.  In the last pool match for England, the last had their first challenge of the day against Finland, running out eventual winners 11-10(61) to 9-4(58), and securing a spot against Spain in the Cup Semi-Final.  The Irish had scored a spot in the Plate Semi-final against Finland.  Both teams recorded impressive wins, with the English going through to the Cup Final with a 13-10(88) to 9-8(62) win and the Irish controlling Finland 13-13(91) to 7-2(44).As the day drew to its conclusion, the Irish team faced Scotland in the Plate final for fifth place.  The Scottish team were too strong winning the battle 13-9(87) to 8-7(55).  The stage was then set for the English team to try and defend it’s EU Cup title against The Netherlands, and the played a controlled match to take the title for the second year running 12-9(81) to 8-9(57).  Croatia, who lost to England in last years final and were the hosts this year, finished third beating Spain in their final.And the accolades weren’t over for the two-time champion Dragonslayers.  Mark Todd, who was equal high goal scorer for England with 7, secured a spot on the EU Cup squad, made of the best players in the tournament from around Europe, the first Titans player to achieve this honour.The Titans wish to recognise and congratulate each of the players that represented the Titans this year at the EU Cup in Croatia, and are looking forward to having more players involved in the 2010 EU Cup to be held in Madrid. Fri Oct 16 18:40:12 +0100 2009 28

Last Friday night the Southampton Titans Aussie Rules Football Club held their 2009 Best & Fairest dinner at the Fat Fig Restaurant in Southampton.In what was the Titans closest vote count of all time, Phil “Wombat” Horrell polled 16 votes in the last round to take a come from behind 76 vote to 73 vote win over Chris de Jong, who took away the Non-Australian Highest Vote Getter award.  Adding to the excitement and intrigue was the fact that Martyn Hinchey polled 21 votes in a best on ground performance in the last round to finish on 70 votes for the season.Other award winners for the evening were Mark Todd, who won the 2009 Goal Kicking award with 19 goals for the season, ahead of Peter Stroud on 14 goals, and Michael Krischunas on 11 goals.  Eoin “Irish” Moynihan walked away with the 2009 Coach’s Award for his service to the club and positive & supportive attitude both on and off the field, the true sign of a great club man.Highest Vote Pollers 76  Phil Horell 73  Chris de Jong 70  Martyn Hinchey 59  Shane McIntyre 46  Kurtis Redman 36  Adam Barry 33  Michael Krischunas 30  Mark Todd 27  Kieran Collins 24  Matt PhylandBest on Ground Performances through the season 2  Phil Horrell 1  Adam Barry 1  Shane McIntyre 1  Kieran Collins 1  Chris de Jong 1  Martyn Hinchey 1  Matt Phyland2009 Leading Goal Kickers 19  Mark Todd 14  Peter Stroud 11  Michael Krischunas 10  Shane McIntyre 10  Kurtis Redman 8   Kieran Collins 8   Phil Horell 8   Huw Ross Tue Sep 01 23:20:38 +0100 2009 27 /usr/home/howardga/etc/rails_apps/titans/public/article/image/27/P1010524.jpg 1 Wombat Claws His Way to Top Prize

The 2009 Titans Best & Fairest Evening is being held at the Fat Fig Greek Restaurant in Bedford Place, Southampton on Friday 28th August.  The start time for the event is 8pm, with the revelry set to extend well into the evening.  The event particulars are as follows:Date : Friday 28th August Venue : Fat Fig, Bedford Place, Southampton Time : 8pm Dress : Evening WearTickets cost £25 per person, with a fine Greek Mezze meal provided to all.  All profits will go to the club and towards the fight to recapture the Titans spirit in 2010, hoping for a return to on & off-field greatness.  Please invite your family and friends, the more the merrier.<h3 align="center">Come one, come all, it’s the Mighty Titans Annual Dinner!  A not to be missed event!</h3><h3 align="center">Come dressed in your finery: Lovely Ladies in posh frocks Gorgeous Gentlemen suited and booted</h3>For more information, or to book your seats, please contact Michael Krischunas on 07748620944 or <a href="mailto:krischunas@hotmail.com">krischunas@hotmail.com</a> Wed Aug 12 21:44:00 +0100 2009 26

2009 B&F Dinner

The roller coaster that was the 2009 Southampton Titans season ended in a massive downward disappointing plummet.  After fighting through the last round of the season to record a win over Portsmouth and grab the last of the finals spots available, the defence of the 2008 premiership stalled with the Titans having to forfeit their semi-final clash against the Bournemouth Demons due to a lack of available players.  Due to a couple crucial injuries, but mostly due to travel commitments, the Titans were unable to round up enough eligible players to start the semi-final.As such, the Bournemouth Demons were given a walk through to the Grand Final meeting Chippenham Redbacks, whom finishing top of the ladder, had also earned the semi-final bye.  In what was a great match, close all day in poor conditions, the Redbacks kicked out from a ¾ time lead of 10 points to a match high 22, before the Demons closed within a goal in the final 5 minutes.  However, that was as close as they would get, and the Redbacks were eventual 8-point winners, 102-94, claiming their first club premiership after winning just 1 game in 2008.The Titans now need to re-group and re-structure in the off season, recruit more players at a local level and look forward to a more stable, and improved 2010. Wed Aug 12 21:28:52 +0100 2009 25

Titans Fail to Start in Semi

In the early match on Saturday, the Demons wore down the Swans before running over the top in the final term to win by 71 points, securing their finals spot, and putting the pressure on the Titans who now needed to win to secure a finals place, and knock the Swans out of the finals picture.With the season on the line, the Titans were eager to get off to a good start and had arranged to get to the ground early and ensure a better preparation for the match that they had managed in recent weeks.  Once the match started, it was apparent that the ploy may have worked with goals raining down in the first quarter.  Peter Stroud playing at full-forward in his first game back for a few weeks managed a season record for the club of 3 goals in the opening quarter as part of the clubs 6 goals, with majors also being registered by Mark Todd and Kieran Collins.  At quarter time, kicking with the slightest of breezes, the Titans had kicked 6-4-40, their highest opening term scoreline for the season, to lead Portsmouth by 6 point, 5-4-34.With Martyn Hinchey getting plenty of purchase on the hit-outs, and Phil Horrell gathering plenty of the ball in the mid-field and around the pitch, the Titans continued to put scoreline pressure on the Pirates kicking 4-2 in the quarter, with another 3 goal term from Stroud giving him 6 to half time.  The defense played strong and held the Pirates to 3-3 kicking with the wind.  At half time, the Titans held a narrow, but valuable, 11 point lead at the half, 66 – 55.  The third quarter saw the rain start to fall and the scoring slow down.  Captain Huw Ross finally got into the game, moving himself into the mid-field and coming up with two important 3rd quarter goals on the run, and firing the lads up.  Phil Horrell managed to get a goal as well getting his third for the day.  Despite wanting to stretch the lead to a comfortable gap by the final change, the Pirates hung in close, and the Titans only managed to extend their lead by a solitary point in the 3rd term, kicking 3-6-24 to 3-5-23.  At the final break, the scorelines were 13-12-90 to 11-12-78.The final term proved to be a real slog, with the fatigue setting in for the Titans playing against a younger, fitter Pirates outfit.  A tussle in the Titans forward line saw Eoin “Irish” Moynihan being sent from the field, along with the Pirates counterpart in the wrestle, which modified the game to 8 a-side.  Given the extra space provided by the loss of a man, and the extra run in the Pirates legs, things looked worrying for the Titans.  The Pirates had plenty of the ball, but were struggling to put the ball through the big sticks, and the Titans were happy to slow the ball down, and rush the occasional behind where necessary.  After only 1 goal in the last quarter, going the way of the Pirates, the sealer came off the boot of Kieran Collins in the dying minutes of the game to extend the lead back out to 9 points, and seal the win for the Titans, 14-17-101 to 12-20-92.With the win, the Titans secured 3rd spot on the ladder, behind the Demons on percentage, and will face the Demons in the semi-final for a spot against the Chippenham Redbacks in the 2009 Grand Final.Quarter by Quarter: Titans:    6-4-40    10-6-66   13-12-90   14-17-101 Pirates:   5-4-34     8-7-55   11-12-78    12-20-92 Goals:  6 – Stroud; 3 - Horrell; 2 – Ross, Todd; 1 - Collins Best:  Hinchey, Horrell, Stroud Injuries:  None Umpire:  David GayfordNotes: * Most goals in a quarter to a single player – Stroud 3 goals in 1st & 2nd Quarter. * Highest first quarter score for the Titans in season 2009, 6-4-40. League Ladder: Team            Played    Won     Lost   Pts     For      Agst       P.C. Chippenham        8        7       1      28     909       586       155.1 Bournemouth       8        4       4      16     879       720       122.1 Southampton       8        4       4      16     833       757       110.0 Sussex                 8        4       4      16     684       759        90.1 Portsmouth          8        1       7       4     571      1054        54.2  Sun Jul 19 00:48:55 +0100 2009 24

Titans Make Semi's