Solna Axemen defeated the previously undefeated Södermalm Blues, leaving the field 77 point winners and sending out a message to their opponents that the dual premiership team is back in town and eyeing in September finals action. The decisive outcome also showed that Solna are the “real deal” and that their Falun VB Cup Victory a couple of months ago was no fluke.

Coach P was very pleased with his troopers, in his post match press conference. “Yeah mate, the boys were really playing for all the right reasons and in the right spirit – “playing for each other, playing for your teammates. All on the sideline were treated to good old fashioned accountable football. Everyone had a job, an opponent and showed commitment to winning the ball at each contest. When we won or had the ball, we worked hard to run forward and create options, and when it was turned over we worked just as hard to get back and cover that opposite man (man-up), and to stop one of Söders strengths, the “quick turnover transition” a.k.a. the fast break goal. There is still some work to do, but i was proud of the boys today”

Returning Ruckman, Danne, got Solna off to a good start and played one of his best games of the season, including the totally legitimate super-bump on Söders playmaker Joel Burnell (who went off straight afterwards). He was well supported by backup Marty who worked hard around the ground as the change ruckman. In the second half, Solna continued to dominate the rucks with fresh legs from Mats, ensuring that the Axemen continued to dictate terms and kept constant pressure on Söder straight out of the middle contest.

For Solnai it was also great to see the line between non-Aussies and Aussie being blurred all across the ground. Nabb played a large chunk of the game onball in a playmaker, centre link-man role. His multiple touches in the final quarter all lead to scores. Also key positions on the half-back were filled by a very mobile Brendan and Fergal. Sean was a rock of Gibraltar in defense and all 3 manned up well. Danne too was clocking up the k’s (kilometres) and as always was getting the hard balls at the bottom of packs, while Brother of Kent was providing great delivery into the forward line. Brother of Ted worked hard early tagging Joel Burnell out of the game and racked up 4 goals and a number of possessions in the process. Solna also welcomed back Rikard at half forward who offered a lot of mobility (as a half forward should) and karate-kicked a magic left foot goal on an angle – a real team lifter. His running speed and work rate left his opponent defender struggling to keep up – thereby giving him both time and space to move the footy onwards at will. Joel presented well and kicked a couple of goals and Wilmar did well as a forward in a new position.

Chris, Nick & Hugh were solid in the full back line and kicking in well hitting their targets and starting off a number of our plays from the depths from the backline. Playing smart footy, keeping their player from having any meaningful impact (especially Brissels) while not giving away too many frees in the process.

The one passage of play which will stick in the spectators minds was the one that lead to a remarkable goal by Leslie in the final quarter. Starting in the deep backline, with Chris, Fergal and Brendan, initially down one wing then back to full back then out to the opposite wing (the “fat” side) where Sean and yours truly were lurking. A snappy handball later, Sean was in the open and on the burst and put in a centimetre perfect pass to the leading Leslie “The Claw” Clarke, who then marked well, played on, sidestepped his opponent and kicked a great running goal (with his left foot I think). Coach P when questioned about this play proudly adds “Yeah, look, I thought the entire play was a textbook example of smart thinking, possession football; using the width of the field to find loose men on the opposite (or fat) side, when the easier and closer option dried up. Söders heads dropped after that, and we went on to a solid, satisfying, win.”