MLU Big Game Recap: Spinners vs. Rumble

Spinners huddle up before first OT this past Saturday night.

This week, I selected Philadelphia Spinners vs. NY Rumble as my Game to Watch in the East.

Boy. Was. I. RIGHT!

I was at this game and the excitement was insane throughout the game. It was on the brink of being the lowest scoring game in the history of Ultimate, but that doesn't mean it lacked action in any way.

It appeared, at first, that the Spinners were still relying on big plays like they had been in their first contest versus the DC Current. It didn't work well for them then and it wasn't doing much for them this night either. But, like the Spinners always seem to do, they kept it close and made it a 7-5 NY Rumble game at the half.


It seems like the score was so low and so close because of sloppy play on either side of the field. I don't know if missed opportunities is a stat that MLU tracks, but this game would have probably set a record for most by each team. I don't know if they were trying to get fancy when they got momentum or if they were just rushing but there were more turnovers in the endzone than I could count.

New York played much like they had been for most of the season. They were fast on defense and crisp and fast with their passing. They were upset a little by the Spinners defense who pressed better than they have all season. Had the Spinners D been more dynamic then the score might have been even lower, but hey! Baby steps!

By the end of the game it turned into a tennis match. Spinners would score and pull. Then the Rumble would score and pull. Etc. Etc. It was quick and harsh, but the Spinners made the quicker of the quick plays in order to tie the game up 11-11.

Then of course, the 5 minute overtime worked similarly to the rest of the game. A score by both teams ended OT at 12-12. I found myself so excited and in the moment, I couldn't remember if Ultimate has a second OT.

Guess what! They do! And it's Sudden Death!

And, on one of those long plays that the Spinners love so much, Alex Peters connected with a wide open Frederik Brasz in the end zone to seal up the first win for the Spinners this season. Insert roaring applause here.

The Spinners didn't play fantastic. They seem to really want to clear the disc down field when they get a turnover near their opponents endzone. That's all well and good if you have a plan to do that. They didn't. They were winging the disc down field and hoping for the best (much to the dismay of a screaming Nick Hirannet). They completed five throws of 40 yards or more, but they probably attempted 12.

But you can see them getting much better. Defense is working well. Speed is picking up. They have a long way to go but they're going in the right direction.