Match Preview

Excitement swells, like a bruise from one of one Lewis’s errant shots, for the season’s first game. This Saturday sees us play Ipswich 2s. Like us, our opposition won promotion last year, so we immediately have a chance to put our fellow new boys on the back foot. Our first trip down the A14 may dictate the shape of the entire season, and Saturday’s result may be pivotal by the year’s end.

In Division 2 North East last year, Ipswich won 17 games and lost 4. We won 18 and only lost 2 – both against Cambridge HC. The stats are on our side. In fairness to Ipswich, they didn’t have to tolerate all the other teams from Cambridge constantly conceding, so they at least got to play every weekend.

A quick stalk of their website – they are fellow Pitchero users – reveals two pre-season friendlies against Colchester and Felixstowe. Both games ended 2-2. Their line-up for Saturday reveals that they have a winger named Peter Wright. I’m sure we are all surprised to see Snakebite, a two-time world darts champion, leave the oche and pick up a stick, but we pride ourselves on being a welcoming sport. Our forwards will have to contend with a defender named Jon Card; Millsy and Luke are familiar with his brothers, Green and Yellow.

Ipswich have a squad of 15, so they’ll be fresh, and they’ll rotate constantly, but we are taking a similarly mighty squad of 14. Our travelling circus includes Will Middleton, Kettering’s latest signing, who, TGI Sports reminded us on our team’s Instagram, ‘was a very promising U12’s player.’ Can he make good on his youthful promise? Follow @ketteringhcm1 on Instagram to find out – and to keep up with our antics generally!

On Ipswich’s Instagram, they proudly proclaim that ‘If Carlsberg did hockey clubs…’ Well, it’s good, but it’s not quite Carlin. Feel free to come and watch us, if you’re super keen, and we always need drivers. If you are totally indisposed and can’t make it, please follow our Instagram, send us good vibes, and head down to Bishop to support us against Cambridge HC next week – and hopefully see us continue the winning streak we begin tomorrow!

#UpTheKettering #A14ForLife #TattershallDebut