BackSat 22 Feb 2025 · East Men's Division 6 North West
Mens 4th XICambridge South 6
0
10
Blood (plenty of it), sweat (loads of it), tantrums (a couple of them) but no tears despite the result.
Stuart Mitchell17 Feb - 20:34
Mens 4 vrs Cambridge South 6
Sometime match reports don’t need to be about the hockey, particularly after a 10:0 drumming!
Four scrappy goals set the tone as Cambridge always seemed to be in the right place in the scramble around the goal mouth with ricochets and great saves from Nate always seemed to fall to their players. The other 6 six goals were just simple hockey and really good shots.
Enough of the depressing match stuff. There were a couple of other points to mention though;
After a quick pre match chat in the changing rooms (despite a third of the team being late-not acceptable (tantrum 1)) we went to the pitch. Once there the tension in the air in the preceding game was palatable, what had gone on…apparently an unusual red card incident – I’ll leave that there.
That left an overrun and minimal time for warm him. It showed and before we knew it we were 4 down thanks to scrappy goals and a beautifully deflected dink just in front of the keepers stick, who was probably already celebrating a great save…next time Justin can you do that in the opposition goal! Not long after Justin apparently subbed himself off so he could throw his teddies and stick at the dugout (at least better to do it off the pitch than on it) Next time though remember to put someone else back on the pitch! Half time 7:0 down and a talking too to both teams from the umpires regarding pushing/ hands on the back player (although it really hadn’t been that type of game), stating next player would be carded.
About 5 mins into the second half another Cambridge attack was broken up and intercepted by Tom S. Unbeknown to most players who were playing on, Tom had taken a stick to the head. It was only when players saw the blood streaking down his face that the play stop. Note to self (and all Captains) check to make sure first aid kits are fully stocked- ours wasn’t but luckily we were at home so could raid the shed). Luckily for us (and Tom) Beth Hawkins was on the sideline, and expertly patched up Tom, who eventually looking “Terry Butcher”esq trudged off to A&E to get it checked, to the applause from both teams and supporters alike.
The game reassumed and after about 10mins Tom A was green carded. Trudging off, head, not surprisingly hanging in shame for when asked why, yep you guessed a push in the back of a player. Fair play to the umpires they had given us the warning and were true to their word.
The make shift back line, (along with the rest of the team) toiled through out the remainder of the half and looking at the positive only let 3 goals in the half, four less than the first half.
So my first double figure defeat, yes it hurt a bit but then you it into perspective – Tom’s injury could have been a lot worse, but luckily (and reasonably quickly) he was sorted at A&E and even made it back for teas, didn’t even have stitches, just a bit of glue! (Question – why do head injury bleed so much!)
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Captain’s thoughts – One of those days, we didn’t play great , but equally we didn’t play that bad, luck wasn’t with us, 50-50 didn’t go our way, and we were undone by some good hockey fast passing hockey and clinical finishing.
Player of the Match – Martin Young – constant effort and hassling in midfield, head didn’t drop despite the score line and constant motivation of the team around him. (Closely followed by “Hard as Nails” Tom S, and Keeper Nate who made some good saves and kept the score line down.
D0D – Justin – on two accounts a wonderful own goal with a perfect deflection over the keeper diving stick and apparently throwing his teddies out of the pram, subbing himself off, throwing his stick and huffing off… my only regret is that I missed the whole episode!
Champagne moment – Tom S returning from A&E to teas, no longer blood flowing down his face and hands, and with a bit of a glued head! And wearing a proud warrior smile.
Captain’s mention – A massive thanks to Beth for patching Tom up, always handy to have someone who knows what they are doing in those situations in or about the hockey pitch.
Four scrappy goals set the tone as Cambridge always seemed to be in the right place in the scramble around the goal mouth with ricochets and great saves from Nate always seemed to fall to their players. The other 6 six goals were just simple hockey and really good shots.
Enough of the depressing match stuff. There were a couple of other points to mention though;
After a quick pre match chat in the changing rooms (despite a third of the team being late-not acceptable (tantrum 1)) we went to the pitch. Once there the tension in the air in the preceding game was palatable, what had gone on…apparently an unusual red card incident – I’ll leave that there.
That left an overrun and minimal time for warm him. It showed and before we knew it we were 4 down thanks to scrappy goals and a beautifully deflected dink just in front of the keepers stick, who was probably already celebrating a great save…next time Justin can you do that in the opposition goal! Not long after Justin apparently subbed himself off so he could throw his teddies and stick at the dugout (at least better to do it off the pitch than on it) Next time though remember to put someone else back on the pitch! Half time 7:0 down and a talking too to both teams from the umpires regarding pushing/ hands on the back player (although it really hadn’t been that type of game), stating next player would be carded.
About 5 mins into the second half another Cambridge attack was broken up and intercepted by Tom S. Unbeknown to most players who were playing on, Tom had taken a stick to the head. It was only when players saw the blood streaking down his face that the play stop. Note to self (and all Captains) check to make sure first aid kits are fully stocked- ours wasn’t but luckily we were at home so could raid the shed). Luckily for us (and Tom) Beth Hawkins was on the sideline, and expertly patched up Tom, who eventually looking “Terry Butcher”esq trudged off to A&E to get it checked, to the applause from both teams and supporters alike.
The game reassumed and after about 10mins Tom A was green carded. Trudging off, head, not surprisingly hanging in shame for when asked why, yep you guessed a push in the back of a player. Fair play to the umpires they had given us the warning and were true to their word.
The make shift back line, (along with the rest of the team) toiled through out the remainder of the half and looking at the positive only let 3 goals in the half, four less than the first half.
So my first double figure defeat, yes it hurt a bit but then you it into perspective – Tom’s injury could have been a lot worse, but luckily (and reasonably quickly) he was sorted at A&E and even made it back for teas, didn’t even have stitches, just a bit of glue! (Question – why do head injury bleed so much!)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain’s thoughts – One of those days, we didn’t play great , but equally we didn’t play that bad, luck wasn’t with us, 50-50 didn’t go our way, and we were undone by some good hockey fast passing hockey and clinical finishing.
Player of the Match – Martin Young – constant effort and hassling in midfield, head didn’t drop despite the score line and constant motivation of the team around him. (Closely followed by “Hard as Nails” Tom S, and Keeper Nate who made some good saves and kept the score line down.
D0D – Justin – on two accounts a wonderful own goal with a perfect deflection over the keeper diving stick and apparently throwing his teddies out of the pram, subbing himself off, throwing his stick and huffing off… my only regret is that I missed the whole episode!
Champagne moment – Tom S returning from A&E to teas, no longer blood flowing down his face and hands, and with a bit of a glued head! And wearing a proud warrior smile.
Captain’s mention – A massive thanks to Beth for patching Tom up, always handy to have someone who knows what they are doing in those situations in or about the hockey pitch.
Further reading