We all slept off the worst of our jetlag and started the day with a typical Dutch breakfast. Hagelslag (chocolate hail) with butter on bread quickly became a favourite, along with the amazing Dutch cheese. We were now ready to start our time as members of the extended DOS’46 family.
Today was an important day for DOS with two big events, and we were privileged to be part of both. In the morning we met at the club hall, De Eendracht. Our hosts have loaned us their bikes, which are the traditional Dutch style, so we have learned to cycle on the right side of the road to get too and from the hall. Our task was to help the club members go around the streets of the village to collect ‘trash or treasure’ left out by the Nijeveeners for the club’s ‘jaarlijkse rommelmarkt’ or annual flea market. We helped to fill all the trailers as the Nijeveen community gave generously to the club. We met numerous locals as we progressed through the village with the tractors, stopping on the way at club members’ homes for coffee and cakes.
In the afternoon some of us watched some of the field korfball games of the club, played on artificial turf and in intermittent rain. Photos and trophies from the club’s history adorn the clubhouse walls. Of particular fascination to most of the players who visited the clubhouse was a traditional style Dutch toilet, which can euphemistically be described as designed with a ledge to enable the user to inspect his or her intestinal health. It has to be seen to be believed. Those who didn’t go to the clubhouse went shopping or to watch an away game where one of the DOS senior teams enjoyed a win.
In the evening, following typically Dutch meals of frikandel, kroket or borenkool, all members of our squad returned to De Eendracht where we joined some of our host families and other club members to watch a big screen with a live feed from Maarssen, the home of korfball league team OVVO. Some of us were loaned club shirts by our hosts to wear for the evening, so we felt doubly comfortable in DOS red and black. DOS ’46 is four times national champion however more recently they have played in the second tier of Dutch club korfball, the Hoofdklasse. Last weekend DOS missed the chance to automatically return to the Korfball League, losing a spectacular high scoring game by 35-30 against Amsterdam club AW/DTV. This weekend DOS started their second opportunity to return to the top level. A best-of-three series against the ninth placed Korfball League team, OVVO, with the winner taking their place in the 2015-16 Korfball League.
While the game started reasonably positively for the DOS visitors, with some good attacking structure, they seemed tense and unable to turn pressure into points. OVVO had established a healthy lead at half time, up by 18-12, and the game appeared lost. Inside De Eendracht, the atmosphere was subdued, particularly as the live feed dropped out a few times. From the start of the second half the DOS ‘46 team found its momentum dominating almost throughout to establish a two-goal lead, 20-22. DOS ‘46, however, was unable to hold onto that advantage as OVVO mounted a comeback of their own, urged on by the home team supporters, to tie the game at the end of the second half 24-24.
Five tense and very long minutes of extra time were required to decide the game. The DOS players kept their composure better to build a lead and hold on just long enough for a 26-27 victory. What that means is that DOS brings a huge advantage back to De Eendracht next Saturday evening, when over 1000 people are expected into the hall to urge the home team on to one more win that will propel DOS back into the Korfball League. So long as our energy levels are high enough after our own tournament next weekend, we should be privileged enough to be part of that experience with our hosts.
After that, jet lag was beginning to kick in again for most of the New Zealand squad members, and we were happy to return to our host families, to reacquaint ourselves with our beds, ready to begin training in the morning.
Tot morgen.
Rob and Bevan
Today was an important day for DOS with two big events, and we were privileged to be part of both. In the morning we met at the club hall, De Eendracht. Our hosts have loaned us their bikes, which are the traditional Dutch style, so we have learned to cycle on the right side of the road to get too and from the hall. Our task was to help the club members go around the streets of the village to collect ‘trash or treasure’ left out by the Nijeveeners for the club’s ‘jaarlijkse rommelmarkt’ or annual flea market. We helped to fill all the trailers as the Nijeveen community gave generously to the club. We met numerous locals as we progressed through the village with the tractors, stopping on the way at club members’ homes for coffee and cakes.
In the afternoon some of us watched some of the field korfball games of the club, played on artificial turf and in intermittent rain. Photos and trophies from the club’s history adorn the clubhouse walls. Of particular fascination to most of the players who visited the clubhouse was a traditional style Dutch toilet, which can euphemistically be described as designed with a ledge to enable the user to inspect his or her intestinal health. It has to be seen to be believed. Those who didn’t go to the clubhouse went shopping or to watch an away game where one of the DOS senior teams enjoyed a win.
In the evening, following typically Dutch meals of frikandel, kroket or borenkool, all members of our squad returned to De Eendracht where we joined some of our host families and other club members to watch a big screen with a live feed from Maarssen, the home of korfball league team OVVO. Some of us were loaned club shirts by our hosts to wear for the evening, so we felt doubly comfortable in DOS red and black. DOS ’46 is four times national champion however more recently they have played in the second tier of Dutch club korfball, the Hoofdklasse. Last weekend DOS missed the chance to automatically return to the Korfball League, losing a spectacular high scoring game by 35-30 against Amsterdam club AW/DTV. This weekend DOS started their second opportunity to return to the top level. A best-of-three series against the ninth placed Korfball League team, OVVO, with the winner taking their place in the 2015-16 Korfball League.
While the game started reasonably positively for the DOS visitors, with some good attacking structure, they seemed tense and unable to turn pressure into points. OVVO had established a healthy lead at half time, up by 18-12, and the game appeared lost. Inside De Eendracht, the atmosphere was subdued, particularly as the live feed dropped out a few times. From the start of the second half the DOS ‘46 team found its momentum dominating almost throughout to establish a two-goal lead, 20-22. DOS ‘46, however, was unable to hold onto that advantage as OVVO mounted a comeback of their own, urged on by the home team supporters, to tie the game at the end of the second half 24-24.
Five tense and very long minutes of extra time were required to decide the game. The DOS players kept their composure better to build a lead and hold on just long enough for a 26-27 victory. What that means is that DOS brings a huge advantage back to De Eendracht next Saturday evening, when over 1000 people are expected into the hall to urge the home team on to one more win that will propel DOS back into the Korfball League. So long as our energy levels are high enough after our own tournament next weekend, we should be privileged enough to be part of that experience with our hosts.
After that, jet lag was beginning to kick in again for most of the New Zealand squad members, and we were happy to return to our host families, to reacquaint ourselves with our beds, ready to begin training in the morning.
Tot morgen.
Rob and Bevan