This past Saturday it was already time for Débaldérin 1’s second league match. We traveled to Amerongen, and this time everyone chose to go by car because of the predicted rain shower that was supposed to come after the match. Due to the “skelter pull” event between Rhenen and Amerongen, Tom’s car almost arrived too late. After a short warm-up (the referee wanted to start 5 minutes early), the match kicked off right on time.
Deen, Bart, Nathalie, and Willemijn started in attack, while Reinier, Tom, Evi, and Inge began in defense. Sara and Lara started on the sideline. Deen opened the score by rewarding a nice attack with a goal. However, it quickly became 1–1. In the first few attacks, both sides managed to score from distance. Then Reinier decided it was enough and sank two in a row. We pulled ahead to 4–7 thanks to more goals from Reinier and Nathalie. But it turned out we really needed halftime, because we hit a rough patch while the opponent found the basket more easily, making it 8–8 at the break.
During halftime we regrouped, and with renewed energy we went back onto the field. By then the dark clouds had come much closer, and it had started to drizzle.
Sara came in for Deen and immediately put us back in the lead with a goal. But the rain was coming down harder now, with thunder and lightning getting closer. After only 4 minutes of play in the second half, the referee decided the rain was too heavy and the storm too close, and suspended the match.
After 5 minutes of waiting inside, watching the downpour, the referee judged that the rain had softened enough to continue. Everyone went back onto the field with fresh energy, and the match resumed. We clearly coped better with the interruption than the opponent, quickly making it 8–11 thanks to goals from Nathalie and Reinier. The opponent did manage to score again, but by then the rain was pouring once more. The thunder was also closer than before, so the match was suspended a second time.
After another ten minutes indoors, it suddenly cleared up, and we could finish the match. However, the original field hadn’t survived the rain, so we had to continue on the second field. After some checks on the markings, the match was restarted again.
The last interruption did affect us: it took a while before anyone scored. The opponents came close, narrowing the gap to just one goal, but then Sara netted another. Finally, Lara ended the scoring with a nice shot. By the end of the match the sun was shining again, but we were all completely soaked. Hemur Enge treated us to smoothies (still no idea why, but very kind), and then we enjoyed a warm shower. The final score was 10–13, and with the win secured we traveled back to Wageningen, Utrecht, Pijnacker, or The Hague.
Written by Nathalie
Goals: Reinier 6, Nathalie 2, Sara 2, Bart 1, Lara 1, Deen 1