BUML 2012-1: Round 12 – A career in politics is no preparation for government!

So for those who are playing at home … we’ve run out of quotes from the Octonauts television show to use in the titles of the previews this season. Octonauts is cool. Anyway, give yourself a kipper if you knew the source of the quotes. We’re now onto another television show.

So we’re into Round 12 … gee, is it just us or has the season done well to avoid the mid-season drag? I think partly it’s the great work of the BUML Organising Committee, who remain nearly invisible behind the scenes. Things keep ticking along neatly. For those of us who’ve been around a few blocks, we’re enjoying the luxury.

There’s four games left of the regular season before Finals time, so almost every team is desperate (but only Griffith FC seem to be dateless).

**Division 2: Larry
>>Baby Chimis vs Disc-Iples – Annerley 3A
>>Bermuda Triangle vs Heroes – Easts 2
>>What the Huck vs Discheads – Easts 3
>>Tsunami vs Agent Orange – Gap 1

Let’s look at this division as a whole, because there’s been a few surprises in recent weeks that could rock the boat. The stand-out of course has been the unfancied Chimis rolling Agent Orange last week, 14-12. No doubt the red resurgence was sparked by a bit of off-hand smack-talk over at the Heroes Blog. The Babies will be looking for a second in a row against fellow cellar dwellars the Disc-Iples. Both teams won’t be making the Finals this season, but have plenty of spoiler potential. Bermuda of course are all set for the Finals, as are Tsunami and What the Huck?, but all three will be keen to keep winning. Bermuda will consider the Heroes easy meat, but the Heroes need to get at least three more wins to have a chance into the Semis, and so will be hucking long on Monday. The ladder is tight though, with third placed What the Huck? taking on the fourth placed Discheads, who remain a chance to drop with a tough draw to finish the season. The Huckers drew with Tsunami last week to set up some tasty future battles, but the big waves will feel like they can merely ripple this week against Agent Orange.

>Our Tips: Baby Chimis on form, Bermuda on dominance, What the Huck? on speed, and Tsunami on endurance.

**Division 3: Moe
>>Apostles vs Slipped Discs – Annerley 5A
>>Griffith Go-Go’s vs Yeast – Annerley 5B
>>Mellow Yellow vs QUTies – Griffith 1
>>Griffith Oh Yeahs vs Griffith FC – Griffith 2

Things are very very interesting in Division 3. Being the ‘lowest’ division, some would expect these teams to also be slightly less organised than the crack military units you find further up the BUML tree. Such observers of course are demonstrating their complete misunderstanding of Ultimate. In reality, some teams have their shit together, and some don’t, and that’s the competition. The easy game to pick this week is first vs eighth – the Griffith Go-Go’s, who’re now getting used to the idea of JdR leaving and probably now playing better, should defeat the Yeast, who remain valiant in their inaugural season. One would also think the Griffith Oh Yeahs should have the experience to take care of Griffith FC, but the work of each team varies a lot from week to week, and with the right combo on the grass (like the one that scared the pants off the Apostles last Monday) they may get up. The Oh Yeahs certainly play better at home. Then things get quite interesting. After swinging the pink at every team in the competition, the Apostles come through their three games in a row against Griffith teams (two losses and then a tight win over FC) looking vulnerable. The Slipped Discs meanwhile have continued to improve through the season, culminating in last Monday’s surprise 15-6 demolition of Mellow Yellow. The Brisbane Beer Club must be looking very closely at its continue sponsorship of the Yellows, who apparently have considered selling the fridge and flying veteran Eireann back for the remainder of the season. MY have an opportunity this week against the QUTies, but the students might have their shit together this week after only scrapping together seven players 40 minutes late last week.

>Our Tips: Griffith Go-Go’s are too good, the Oh Yeahs will pride themselves through, the Apostles will right the ship, and Mellow Yellow will work it out.

**Division 1: Curly
>>The Ghost Who Walks vs Poachers – Annerley 3B
>>Dyspnoeics vs Drop Bears – Easts 1
>>UQ Lovers vs White Lantern – Gap 2

Division one is now mostly sorted out, with all teams having played themselves twice, we know who's got form over whom, and who is Gref's beotch and all that. But there’s some vagarities in the draw, some kinks to ease out, and some adjustments to the top four that still need to occur before the finals hit. The Poachers have smashed the Greater Western Walkers twice previously, and will do so again, keeping in mind that they’re currently second on goal difference and the sour taste of last week’s draw. They Dyspnoeics notoriously play badly during State of Origin time, but they’ve won some big games recently – every game in fact since their 13-13 draw with the Drop Bears just over a month ago. So maybe this game will be tigher than some think. The big battle in Division 1 this week (the one we would televise, if we could – at least because one of these teams has the most handsome lads on the scene), is the UQ Lovers vs White Lantern. Its one win each this season for this matchup, and recent form for both has been uneven. White Lantern though forced a 15-15 draw last week against the mighty Poachers, so may be looking tighter as exams approach for the students.

>Our Tips: Poachers for the win, Dyspnoeics for the epic, and White Lantern to surprise us.