The third round of the Bank Windhoek Fistball League took place over the weekend at Cohen Fistball Club (CFC) in Windhoek. Hosts, CFC 1, put up a great performance which saw them record their first win of the season. As it stands, CFC 1 and SWK 1 are separated by a mere four points at the top of the log.
Champions Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW 1), kicked off the proceedings on a chilly morning. Despite the weather, they went on and won Group A to qualify for the semi-finals. Swakopmund Fistball Club (SFC) failed to match their performances delivered in the previous round. The coastal team could only record a set win against SKW 1 and lost to both CFC 2 and CFC 3 who fielded strong teams backed by internationally experienced players.
CFC 2 and 3, battled it out in a tightly contested encounter. The decider of the game came after three sets when CFC 2 narrowly won the match 2:1, their first win of the season. As a result, CFC progressed to the semi-finals.
Group B was dominated by CFC 1 who swept other teams aside to finish top of the group. SKW 2 won against CFC 4 and DTS 3:0 and 2:1 respectively. SKW 2 then took on CFC 1 without a defensive plan during the first set. They however rectified this in the remaining two sets, but it was too late as SKW 2 lost 3:0. The other match saw CFC 4 face Deutscher Turn und Sportverein (DTS) whom they comfortably defeated.
The third placed team in Group A, CFC 3, was pitted against the fourth placed team in Group B, DTS, in the first crossover. CFC 3 won this encounter. SFC managed to register their first win of the day when they outplayed CFC 4. In the final placement games, SFC beat CFC 3 to finish fifth. CFC 4 beat DTS in the seventh and eighth placed match fixture.
SWK’s two teams squared up against each other in the first semis. SKW 1 emerged victorious as they defeated SKW 2. The other semis also saw two CFC teams fight it out for bragging rights. CFC 2 claimed the first set 15:14, but it was not enough as later on CFC 1 managed to win and booked a place in the finals.
The match for third place saw CFC 2 and SKW 2 pitted against each other. As the two teams competed for supremacy, SKW 2 took the lead. CFC 2 responded to level the score line but momentum shifted towards SKW 2 once more, who increased the lead to 2:1. This meant that SKW only needed to win another set to finish the game off. However, CFC 2 had other plans in mind and equalised again. In the end, SKW 2 picked up their game plan and defeated CFC 2 3:2.
Rivals SKW 1 and CFC 1 met in the finals. As the match kicked off, SKW 1, immediately started off on a fast pace. CFC 1 on the other hand made numerous service errors and lost 9:2. CFC 1 later came back into the game, but it was too late as they lost the first set 11: 7. CFC 1 improved their game in the second set of which they won.
Towards the end of the match, CFC 1 refused to be dominated as they won the tightly contested third set. The final score was 11:9 in favour of CFC 1 who secured their first and significant win of the season. Kirsten van Biljon from CFC 2, was voted as Player of The Day for his exceptional match play.
Next up on the Fistball calendar is the Cohen Cup Tournament, set to take place on Saturday, 7 July 2018 at Cohen Fistball Club in Windhoek.
Team placements after the third round match day
1. CFC1
2. SKW 1
3. CFC 2
4. SKW 2
5. SFC
6. CFC 3
7. CFC 4
8. DTS
Log standings after the third round
Points
1. SKW 1 34
2. CFC 1 30
3. SKW 2 24
4. SFC / CFC 2 16
5. CFC 4 4
6. DTS 3
7. CFC 3 2