St Ives 3 (O) vs Bourne Deeping 3

If Travis has been there today I would have happily told him that it wasn’t that he lied when he was seventeen it was that he was at Bourne Deeping. I honestly don’t believe I have ever seen Arthur Mellows College in pleasant weather and today was no different. 

For the first time in many, many games the two travelling Jago’s were offered a lift to the game. This came from Uncle John Tudor. In my excitement I jumped straight in the passenger seat leaving the youth to get in the back. Only 15 mins out did I realise my error and easy DOD as the kit bag was still in the Garage. Some would call a very Ranner thing to do and many did however our captain could not be blamed as he was unfortunately absent due to foreign travel. (He’s a Spy!) 

So on to the pitch a quick and chat with the coach flat cap included and over to steal the 2s bag. 

After a disappointing performance they were overjoyed to hear of my misfortune but did allow us their kit. On to the game. 

Rematch as last week the team talk completely prophesied what could happen and much of it did. We said they will try and force the ball through with hits from the top of the circle. He said they will just strike at shorts. And they did. 1-0 down. Straight through JT as he was still contemplating the correct Fran for the print he had purchased in Europe of a very suave looking former section rep. Now this was against the run of play. st Ives reacted and some beautiful free flowing and accurate hockey started to be applied to the game. Declan new to us in the 3s started to exert his influence as did our Wings. 

Eventually short corners and pressure started to tell. After a run through the same big fish routine went through Declan. An accurate slap to the front post, a tip on from Will Jago and then a deadly 3 inch finish from Tom Hingston and back in the game. 

Half time was positive apart from the lack of jelly babies. To do for next week. So we started again. 

The change of ends and interpretation of the rules and regulations did not benefit us in the second half. The shape of the team changed and the accuracy of of play decreased. Although opportunities still arrived they were not grasped. Short corners weee won but not converted. Isaac nearly killed an elderly gentleman and another had clearly not woken up on the right side of the bed this morning as he directed foul and abusing language at the juniors on our team. Although the umpire did not hear and deal with this I was incredibly proud of the mature response from our “kids” who made it quite clear that this wasn’t big or clever and he should be ashamed of himself. 

Quite right and the correct response in my book. 

After Deeping converted a great open field chance and then another from a short we unfortunately didn’t manage to convert the remained of our chances. 

We finished and unfortunately had to split quickly as Uncle John and Will were down to Umpire. Back at home. 

We go again next week with a home game against Newmarket. 

MoM was easily Alex who the third goal withstanding had an imperious performance in the sticks. 

DOD was decided before even reaching the venue. 

Lessons from today are as such. 

1 remember the kit bag. 

2 also remember the kit bag. 

3 when we play good hockey we look good and create chances. 

4 we know the rules so we should play to them. 

5 we play for fun. We want to win but there’s no need to let your self down. Very proud today. 

6 remember the kit bag.