Derby Day Clash of the Titans!

It was a very bright start for the 'junior' team, playing some lovely passing hockey and putting the 5s defense under a lot of pressure. However it took most of the first half before the opening goal was scored. Rusty played a cracking pass wide to young Peter Menzies (making his season debut) who skipped through the opposition before laying the ball back to his waiting forwards. If a few more of the 6s had turned up at training this year they would have recognised this as what is commonly known as "a good move". Fortunately Monty was sufficiently awake to pounce while the defense struggled to clear it and slid the ball past the helpless Batch.

Yes, that was the Batch who had played most of the season in goals for the 6s before taking up an outfield role for the 8s as the club had an abundance of keepers. This week it seemed some of the keepers had decided to have their annual Goalies' Away Day so Batch ended up playing against us.

The 1-0 lead lasted to half time and it was a fairly confident 6XI who resumed the second half against a side with only 11 players in their squad. Unfortunately the opposition forgot that they had no subs and fairly old legs, so they pretty much dominated the start of the second half.

Bunker was inspirational in defence, mopping up anything that squeezed through the midfield, while Rusty demonstrated his mole impersonation by popping up unmarked every time Bunker took a 16 (I'll give you a clue lads, don't look at the eyes!).

Eventually tiredness caused some errors of judgements to creep in and the 5s were reduced to 10 men on a couple of occasions, giving the 6s a chance to carve out a few chances which really should have put the game beyond doubt.

In the end the one goal was all that separated the two teams. And in the league there is only one point between the sides—but it's the 6s who take this slight lead into the winter break.