The CSIRO/Uni Challenge was initiated in June 2000 by Craig Mundy from the University of Tasmania. Craig wanted to see a more competitive and orderly form of Ultimate played than the raggedy bunch of people chasing a disc around at the standard lunch time pickup games. This was to be serious 7 a side Ultimate (with no bounce passes!).
The first challenge was to find a suitable trophy, so that there was something to be won and lost at each challenge. Once Edwina was found, there was little left to do other than agree on using standard WFDF rules and set the rules for a re-challenge. It was decided that the challengers could issue a challenge to the holders at any time. The holders had 4 weeks to answer the challenge and to defend their trophy, or else concede it to the challengers.
After a hiatus of some months, and CSIRO appearing to struggle to be able to find sufficient players to mount a challenge, the CSIRO/Uni challenge was rebadged in late 2005 as the Workers' Party vs Uni Challenge, with a group of workers led by Joe Boyer challenging the holders (Uni).
The rules for the CSIRO/Uni challenge are basically the WFDF rules with a few minor variations.
After the first 15 games the score is 9-6 to CSIRO. In the 2005 season, the score was 1-0 to the Uni team, which held Edwina when the CSIRO team suddenly collapsed! Fortunately the competition was rejuvenated by the emergence of a new power!
The Workers' Party arose from a repressive industrial relations environment to form a team and challenge the holders (Uni) to a game. This initial challenge was held on Friday September 30, 2005, from 5:45-7:00pm under lights on the Uni Oval. Since then the Workers seems to have taken over the role of CSIRO in this challenge series. After the fifth Uni vs Workers' Party challenge, the score is 3-2 to the Workers, who currently hold Edwina.
The next Uni vs Workers' Party Challenge game awaits a challenge from the Uni team.
If you wish to play for the Workers' Party (should they decide to challenge) contact Joe Boyer. For the Uni team, try talking to Mike Baker. Bring a red shirt for the revolutionaries and a black shirt for the Uni team.
CSIRO dominated the first game in June 2000, reeling off the first 6 points without answer, eventually easing off to an 11-6 victory, despite playing some very ordinary zone defence. The second game again went CSIRO's way, although not quite as comfortably as in the first game, with a score something like 10-7 - does anybody remember the score?
The third game saw the Uni team finally get their act together, and saw them victorious in a very tight contest, winning 7-6 after time cap. The 4th game was another tight contest, with CSIRO fighting back after the Uni team took an early 3-0 lead. This game was again won by the Uni side this time 13-11.
The fifth challenge match showed that a team of walking wounded can walk away with the spoils, so long as they show up and play. Despite over half of the team being less than 100% fit, eight CSIRO players won the November 2000 challenge convincingly. The Uni's fifth player turned up 15 minutes after the official start time and at this time James was forced to concede defeat by forfeit - clearly the Uni team was intimidated by CSIRO's superior strength and organisation, and in so doing also conceded the title of the state champion for the year 2000.
The sixth challenge game held in March 2001, saw the CSIRO team of ten mere mortals take on a Uni team of around 25 players and go down in a brave struggle, 10-8. Struggling with a few too many mistakes, too much theory and not enough practice, the CSIRO team fell behind early, with the gap opening up by as much as 4 points at times. The big loser this time was probably James, who strained/pulled his hamstring, not that this was likely to have influenced the result, of course.
The seventh challenge game held in April 2001, saw probably the tightest and most competitive game yet. This game was played in moist conditions and saw the lead change 4 times. CSIRO just fell over the line after time cap, winning 8-7, although either side could easily have won. The big loser this time was Zin, who sprained his ankle (or had it sprained for him) and couldn't actually walk after the game (you thought your hamstring was bad James)! [Update Zin's ankle was more than sprained, he had a broken bone somewhere in the ankle region - news remain a little sketchy, but he was seen walking with a cast(?) and crutches soon after this game and he has been seen on the ultimate field (just once) in 2002. This sounds like a great advertisement for being a Tas Uni club member to ensure you have proper insurance!] Player of the game was probably Chucky for his repeated defensive intercepts.
The eighth game, May 2002, was played in perfect conditions, with bright sunshine and a light breeze. The CSIRO team of 10 players had a couple of key players missing, and, as has become the pattern, faced a Uni team of around 15 players... After losing the first two points, CSIRO fought back to level the scores at 2-2. After trading points, CSIRO took the lead at 5-4, but were unable to answer a sustained Uni rally, with the Uni team taking 4 consecutive points and the half 8-5. With the time cap looming, CSIRO were forced to score quick points after the half. With a cunning "huck it to Leslie" plan, CSIRO managed to bring the score back to 8-7 just before time cap. Needing 2 consecutive points to retain Edwina, CSIRO couldn't quite manage it and the Uni team ran out deserving winners 9-7. Player of the game was probably Leslie for some spectacular bids and catches in the end zone.
The ninth game, June 2002, was a very tight contest. After cunningly issuing the challenge to coincide with Uni holidays, CSIRO ensured that player numbers were closer to even this time - although both sides had players missing or injured. In fresh conditions, with a decent breeze, this game started very close with points (some of them very long) traded to 4-4. Something must have clicked for CSIRO at this stage as they scored consecutive points and took the half 6-4, and then continued the run to take the score out to 9-4. With time running out, the Uni team rallied, scoring 4 consecutive points and coming back to 9-8 at time cap. Player of the game was... hmmmm... any nominations?
After a long lead up time (the Uni team had to find Edwina and give her back to CSIRO before they could issue a challenge) the tenth game, held in April 2003, saw a tightly contested first point with as many as 9 turnovers. After taking the first point, CSIRO settled into a bit of a rhythm and slipped out to a 6-1 lead at half time. The second half saw a resurgent Uni side come back to score 3 consecutive points, but after that the half time pep talk must have been forgotten, with CSIRO scoring 5 consecutive points (one of which was scored after the Uni dropped the pull in the end zone) and running out winners 11-4. Kudos to the Uni team for fielding a large team including 5 women and a number of new players. With a couple of ringins, CSIRO's team of 8 included 3 women and much of the challenge was played with at least 6 women on the field. Player of the game? Alice perhaps?
The eleventh game, held in August 2003, again saw a tight contested in the first few points with numerous turnovers. The luck and the game seemed to fall with CSIRO mostly, and they took the half 6-0. With a bit of a run, the official points cap was reached early, with the score 11-2 to CSIRO. The game continued past the points cap and may have finished with a score something like 14-5. There were a number of spectacular layouts, Mike having the pick of the defensive D's, and Joe taking a very nice layout O, but the Play of the Day goes to Shavawn for a layout catch deep in the endzone for a goal. Again kudos to the Uni team for fielding a large team (15?) including 4 women and a number of new players. With a couple of ringins, CSIRO's team of 10 included 3 women.
The twelfth game, held in Ocotber 2003, saw a very tight game, with CSIRO taking an early lead, 1-0, then falling behind 1-3. The CSIRO team regrouped to take the half 8-6, and proceeded to win the game 10-9 at time cap. This game was played in very windy conditions, but we somehow avoided the hail which was falling earlier in the day. CSIRO fielded a team of 7 against a tightly drilled Uni squad of 9 players.
The thirteenth game, was held in February 2004 during O-Week at Uni. CSIRO lacked a few players, due to absences and injury, and they were lucky to scrape up 8 players, thanks to ex-Uni players Joe and Felix playing, and by borrowing a woman (on rotation) from the Uni's stock of 3 women. Despite the lack of players, CSIRO managed to take half 8-5 and held on to this lead to win 12-8 at time cap. Player of the game? Joe seemed to catch most of CSIRO's goals - and Jeff seemed to get most of CSIRO's defensive blocks.
After a long hiatus, the Uni finally got themselves organised and issued a challenge in September 2004. This game was held on Friday October 1. The fourteenth game, was held in October 2004 at the start of the Spring frisbee season in Hobart. With poor recent recruitment from within, CSIRO morphed into the CSIRO plus team. However, when Uni only turned up with only 5 players, CSIRO took pity on them and gave them Tim. The Uni team started very strongly, taking the first 4 points on the trot. With the score 5-1 to the Uni team, Robin showed up, providing CSIRO with 2 subs, and the come back started, with CSIRO levelling the score at 6s and then again at 7s before Uni closed out the half. CSIRO continued to level the scores after half, levelling the last time at 11s at time cap. The sudden death last point saw Uni take a well deserved victory in a keenly contested game.
The now traditional O-Week Challenge match was played in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 4. For this fifteenth game the definition of Uni's opposing team was formally broadened from "CSIRO" to "CSIRO/IT Professionals", (otherwise it would have had only 4 members). The first points were contested strongly and mostly went CSIRO/IT's way, with the score reaching 6-2. However, the pace began to tell on the venerable CSIRO players, and especially as they continued to use their zone-D their cup steadily changed from fierce to feeble. Uni kept their cool and fought back to equalize at 9-9. Half-time was cancelled and the timecap loomed, and Uni clinched the final goal. Were the crowd weeping or screaming on the sideline? No! They had no idea that a desperate struggle was playing out before them! Guys - we gotta get that scoreboard!
On September 30, 2005, the first Uni vs Workers' Party Challenge was a well attended game with 7 on 7 ultimate played with each team having a couple of subs. The final score remains a mystery - but apparently the Uni won the game, with Patrick Dunne making a return from the dead (or obscurity at least) to star on defence!
On December 19, 2005, the second Uni vs Workers' Party Challenge was a well attended game with 7 on 7 ultimate played with each team having a couple of subs. Both teams played a fair bit of zone D and the Workers' Party took the half 9-6. The the Workers' Party came out strongly in the second half moving to 13-7 at one stage before the Uni made a spirited comeback, with a final score 15-11 to the toolies.
On March 3, 2006, the third Uni vs Workers' Party Challenge as one in the series of traditional O-Week Challenge matches. Rumour has it that the University team regained Edwina, having beaten the Workers' Party 10-9 (or thereabouts). Apparently the Uni team started very strongly, taking an early 6-1 lead, before the Workers started to claw their way back into the game.
On June 26, 2006, the fourth Uni vs Workers' Party Challenge was held, with the game being played under lights from 6:00-7:30pm. The challenge match was held partly as a practice game for the University of Tasmania team going to Southern University Games, but Edwina was still up for grabs. The final score is unknown, but apparently the Workers retained Edwina.
On September 19, 2006, the fifth Uni vs Workers' Party Challenge was held under lights again. Once again, this challenge match was held partly as a practice game for the University of Tasmania team, this time going to the Australian University Games. Due to unprecedented interest, there were sufficinet players for two simultaneous games, with the Uni team being split into those who were heading to Adelaide for Uni Games and those who were not. The final scores again are unknown, but apparently the Workers won both games (by a single point in one case) and retained Edwina.