Equipment shipped in, posts, nets, stands all bolted down, measured and tensioned, chairs, tables, fixture lists and score sheets all set up. It’s Friday evening, it’s all quiet and the volunteers take a rest.
In a few hour’s time, 28 teams will be go head to head, some will succeed, some it will be their first time, it’s going to be loud, fast, the strong will survive, the unprepared will tail away, it’s survival of the fittest, it’s SW Champs time…
There are going to be heroes, errors, spectacular plays and the ones that didn’t quite go to plan, moments you will remember, injuries you wish would go away, every point counts, the margins are going to be small.
Winners, losers, bonus points on offer and one team manged to get four draws! Team talks, recovering, socializing, homework in the canteen for some.
Evening out at the Plymouth Barbican, the restaurants, takeaways, pubs, clubs and team bonding. Some will stay in, early night, some will stay out all night, all but two will make it onto court for that 9:15 Sunday morning whistle.
After 140 matches, 25 mm of results sheets and 16 hours of play, we enter the Knock Out phase, no more squad rotations, it’s the business end, first six v first six on court, winner takes all for the rest of the event.
In the end, the victors, the celebrations, moments of joy, we done it, survived and came out on top.
It’s going to be Loud, 102 dB’s, that’s a 747 Takeoff, Helicopter, Chain Saw, Subway Train loud, it’s SW Champs time…
