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The Dapto Bats canoe polo team represented DHS in great style on November 11^th in the annual Mudcake Challenge competition run by the Kangaroo Valley Canoe Club.  The team consisted of Year 12 students, Dalibor Vujic, Peter Lennon, Wayne McManus, and Shane Jacka (ex Yr 12), our two newest members from Yr 9, Patrick Mitchell and Jack Towers and  myself.  I'm very proud of the boys and they way they conducted themselves, plus how they played as a team.  Some were a bit rusty as they hadn't played since Easter and it took a couple of games to get back into the swing of things. 

There were six teams playing in the round-robin competition so we had an energetic day ahead of us, drawn in the first game against our archrivals “The Dags”.  However, the boys proved they had what it takes and we ended up being placed in the A-Grade semi-finals.  Our semi final game against Canberra was a nail-biter, my skills at keeper being stretched to the max with their star player firing 4 shots at me within 10 seconds – all blocked I'm pleased to say.  At full time we were 3-all and went into extra time where the next goal wins the game.  Unfortunately Canberra got the winning goal in the last minute of extra time, sealing us into 3rd place overall.  Nonetheless, we're all very pleased with the result.  The BBQ and Mudcake at the end was a great way to finish off a fantastic day.  Our thanks to Andy Halliday of the KVCC for organising the event.

The other major highlights of the day were Patrick and Jack’s nailing of the Eskimo (paddle) roll.  Both had previously mastered the hand roll.  Well done boys, and well done Bats!  Our only casualty for the day was a broken paddle blade.  And, Peter’s suntan was a little extreme.  The next competition is the Cheesecake Challenge in Canberra, March 2007.  We’ll be ready!

Mr. J Wilson