This year has been eventful to say the least! The team has seen highs and lows, both on and off the field. We began the year with serious concerns about player numbers - which soon proved to be unfounded. Samurai also managed to acquire a Division 1 spot in the NSPL, making a leap from Division 3 to force us to improve rapidly just to be competitive. So it was very rewarding to win the first round event!

We then lost a great friend and team player, as Martin Vipas sadly passed away in March 2007 to Cystic Fibrosis. He will always be greatly missed by those that knew him. I'd like to add how proud I am of the whole team for rallying around and raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in Martin's memory, and for the performance that allowed us to dedicate our 2nd placing to Martin. And so Samurai MV was born, as a team to encourage new players into the sport of paintball. The very next event at D7's Samurai took 1st in Division 1 with Samurai MV taking 2nd in Division 2/3.

Then came the fiasco of Heavens Gate. Samurai started out off the wrong foot and dropped some early games, but then rallied and turned it around. Unfortunately the reffing staff made some horrendous calls, and we were then forced to replay a game that we'd just won. The odds were never in our favour - and marked a turning point for us in the league.. as for the first time ever Samurai walked out of an event. The team took 2nd at the next event, leaving us in very good standing at the top of Division 1. However over the course of the final two rounds, it became apparent that we were not destined to take the top spot. More controversy reigned supreme, and with a 3rd finish at Round 10 Samurai finished 2nd in Division 1. As a result of the 2007 seasons consistent controversy Samurai have to decided to leave the league and step up to the next level in 2008.

Both teams saw out the year at D7's 5man event (as the Euro5Man was postponed) and we had gained enough new faces to also enter a Samurai Novice team!

In summary, to paraphrase Frank...

We've loved, we've laughed and cried. We'Ive had our fill; our share of losing -
And now, as tears subside, We find it all so amusing.
To think we did all that; And may I say - not in a shy way, No, oh no not us, we did it the Samurai way.
For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught. To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels. The record shows we took the blows - And did it the Samurai way!

Congratulations guys - we really stepped up this year, and thoroughly deserved our placing, if not the title!
Rounding out the year with our team dinner and awards ceremony is a perfect end to a great season, and I can only add that I genuinely look forward to playing alongside you all in 2008!