Brand Knew's: November 2005

Check the Results

Mike Talty the hockey helmet wearing, nationally televised Bills fan, was in San Diego for the game vs The Chargers, and had a little too much to drink. Here is the decent.

Bath v Purley Flags

Another loss, but still having fun...sweet trousers Jimmy!

By Nik Roberts: After the league defeat two weeks ago, Bath were determined to make a better competition of the Senior Flags, travelling with a good squad to Purley.The West Country team matched Purley for three quarters although the home side looked the stronger in general, scoring every time Bath managed to get close.Paul Terry in Goal for Purley had his usual good game coming up with some fine saves, and at the other end, Nige Gates (returning from injury) showed his quality, making at one point consecutive one on one saves.Dave Hartshorne playing his first game of the season, showed much of his old prowess, timing his cuts to perfection, scoring five goals, in fact the ''Old'' attack of Roberts, Hartshorne, Griffiths and Lovett looked a lot steadier, maybe they have played together for too long, and know where each other is going.On the downside, Matt Grody, the youngest Bath player pulled up with a back spasm, making it impossible to walk, never mind play, luckily the Purley Physio was able to help.All in all a much better performance, and Bath should be pleased with themselves. There is a slight worrying trend of petering out in the last quarter, Purley scored twice in the last 20 seconds, making the score look a lot worse than it should have been.Quote of the day:''Tough saves I do, it's the easy ones that go straight past my head'' Nige Gates on his goal keeping performance.Whinge of the dayDave Arnot Purley, trying to come to terms with the fact that fat blokes don't move as quickly, and hence get hit more often.And my my what language.

Brand Knew The Goalie

When I showed up for the mixed lacrosse game between Bath University and Exeter University today, they we're short a goalie. Probably still a little buzzed up from the night before I volunteered to suit up. Wearing jeans and a button down shirt under the gear I was fairly effective. I let in the good shots and saved the easy ones! In the end we lost 10-9.

Bath v Hilcroft

We traveled to London Saturday to face Hilcroft for a league match. My friend from Buffalo, Richie "The Baby Baby" Sasala, who is studying at Galway University in Ireland, came to play and visit for the weekend. The game was fun although we lost 9 to 4. I got thoroughly embarrassed as you'll read in Nik's report later.

After last weeks poor show, where they made Purley look good, Bath needed to prove to themselves more than anything else that they are a good Lacrosse team, capable of playing at this level. Although Hillcroft came out winners the West country outfit competed in every department, and had it not been for some good goal keeping from Hillcroft''s Steve Flint, and the posts (4 times) the game might have been a lot closer. Bath if anything were guilty of giving too much respect to the South London team, mainly due to the fact that they had beaten Purley and drawn with Hampstead, both of which had taken Bath on quite easily. The midfield ran their socks off, and scored all the Bath goals, with Doug Mackey getting a brace, proving that when he has a mind to he's as good as anything in the premiership. Hillcroft are a hard physical side, and in general much maligned for being dirty, unfortunately, their American Defender was guilty of a few late, and cheap shots, while the referee was unsighted. Basically the better team won, and Bath were always in the game. However Bath must kick themselves after Hillcroft made them look silly with the old 'dummy the ball in the net' ploy, well executed as the whole Bath defence concentrated on the player without the ball. One highlight was the contribution made by Ed Ward, who had open of his best games. Quote of the day:'The post is all part of my armoury' Steve Flint, Hillcroft. Duck of the Day:Coach Mike Brand who dropped to the submissive squat position, thinking the Hillcroft player was about to shoot, after the fake, the guy just walked past. 'I might like the team, but I'm not going to die for it' was Mikes defence.

Brand Knew Mixtape #1

Download and Enjoy!

Off The Schneid

The mighty Baystar skittles club finally won its first match last night five legs to nil. For the second week running I threw a 9 (all pins knocked down), and for the first time ever I beat my teacher, mentor, sensei, sherpa Colin Carey. Actually, everyone did! Hopefully this will put us on the right track to domination. The sandwiches and sausage never tasted better!

This momentous occasion will be documented on the Baystar Website!

Kim in Prague

My sister Kimberly became the 2nd Brand to visit the mother continent last week. She was on the eastern side and consumed mass amounts of lager in Duetchland and Czechoslovakia. I beat her here by 2 and a half months!

Starsailor in Bath

Went to see Starsailor at the Pavilion in Bath last night. I first heard this band through MTV2 then saw their lead singer play a solo acoustic show at Buffalo State with Ra. Although their popularity in England has waned since their first album it wasn't the case last night. They mixed their older songs with the new one's very well. Notable songs played were Alcoholic, Fidelity, Fever, Poor Misguided Fool, Lost Souls, This Time and In The Crossfire.

Good Season Fella's

GI football's season came to an end last Friday night. It was an impressive one with many 4th quarter victories. The highlight of the season has to be beating football and lacrosse rival Sweet Home. Get ready for lax season boy's, and another championship, no matter what the naysayers on this website say!

Article From Buffalo News Grand Island Football Website

Weekend in Caerdydd (Cardiff) After our ass whipping in Bath I journeyed west to Cymru (Wales) to "go out on the piss" and then play a mixed lacrosse game the next day. I must say it was a blast. From the altercation with a Welsh rastafarian, to dancing the night away in a huge dance club in the student union in Cardiff University, to sleeping 12 in a kitchen, to losing my car keys then retrieving them at the club the next day, to stealing all the remotes from our hosts flat, to getting a penalty for throwing a behind the back pass, and finally giving up in our mixed game, the Welshmen are not keen on American attitude. One of the many highlights of the trip was getting fakey to say the longest name for a Welsh town: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychybdrobwllanddisiliogogogoch. Thanks to all that made the trip with us, it was memorable.

Jo & I

The Student Union

Pett cutting the rug

The Ladies

Fakey's Bum

Bath City v. Purley

We got our asses handed to us but it was fun. Story to follow from Nik Roberts.

Travis and myself. He's the other North American on the team, hailing from Vancouver British Columbia. Our common bond is the love of Timbits!

Our current goalie, Dan "The Wall" Weil on the right, and Bath University's current goalie, Matt "Picket" as in picket fence. Not to be confused with the fact that after a goal the ball is in the back of the net and he has to PICKET out!

By Nik Roberts

Bath held Purley for a quarter, and then the wheels fell off the proverbial wagon, despite a lot of huffing and puffing the gap between the two sides in terms of team work was evident, every time Purley got hold of the ball they looked dangerous, bath however looked rushed, resorting to 'hail Mary's' for clears and shots from long range. In defence far too much room was given, which was in turn exploited by the visitors. Even a request from the defence for the referees to make a stick check proved fruitless. Not a good day at the office.

Quote of the day:'That things a peeeeeee shooter' coach Mike Brand after failing to get a favourable result from a stick check.