Baptism of Fire on the Smurf Turf

First game of the new season and it was an early start on the ‘Smurf Turf’ of Abbeydale to face an experienced Sheffield 7s side.
The first piece of hospitality was the changing room, with some of our players questioning if we were in a medieval castle given the lack of glass in the window. Resourceful as always, and not wanting to change in a force 10 gale (alright slight exaggeration), the team quickly absconded and took over the rugby changing rooms.
With the Rocky theme playing over the speakers the team readied themselves for the tough test to come. The team had a youthful feel. In goal Charlie ‘Chocolate’ Goodwin was making his senior debut, indeed it was his first full length game. There were also appearances for Von Ryan’s Express, Mad Max, Homer ‘You cannot change your nickname’ Chuckle#2 and the Tomahawk Bandit. There was also experience in the guise of Bigfoot, Boss Hogg, Hutch, Flavio and IceBurg. With Fitbit tasting his first league game that just left one player, Shep, who was on his way home after establishing shorts were an essential part of your hockey kit.
To the first half and it was to be a baptism of fire for the young (and not so young) players. On the un-watered ‘smurf turf’ the team struggled to cope with the bouncy surface. Extra touches were taken and play became too precise. Their experienced opponents, used to the surface, seized on the extra touches and hit the ball forward quickly to the forwards. It wasn’t long before Chocolate was exposed by these errors and Sheffield took the lead with a simple finish.
It didn’t take long to concede a second, though there was a little controversy with this one. From a short corner there was a clear double hit by the injector that was not seen by the umpire. From the top of the D the Sheffield player fired his shot into the bottom corner. Chap were now in disarray and continued to overplay when on the ball and misread the ball as the Sheffield defence hit it through. Chocolate was to find himself twice one on one with an experienced Sheffield forward and each time was helpless as the forward confidently rounded him to put the ball into an empty net. Just before half-time Sheffield were to add a fifth following a further midfield mistake.
The Half Time team talk was difficult. Due to the problems being posed by the surface Hutch and Boss Hogg asked the team to play in a direct manner that was alien to how the team had set out in pre-season. A 0-0 second half would be a success. And though Chap were not to get on the score sheet what a success it was. Mad max had been moved to link up with Tomahawk Bandit. Playing high Tomahawk Bandit ran down pass after pass, leaving the Sheffield defenders in his wake. The rotating midfield of Von Ryan, Chuckle#2, Flavio, Hutch, IceBurg and Fitbit then worked hard to support him. Though a lot of the mistakes were still there, they were not costly as the ball was high up the pitch. It wasn’t all about minimising mistakes either. As the half progressed the players became more confident. Tomahawk hit a couple of good shots from the outer edges of the D that brought the Sheffield keeper into the action. With more purpose Hutch fired a teasing back post pass that Tomahawk managed to connect with but couldn’t direct on target. Von Ryan showed more attacking drive from the left and Mad Max showed intent on the right but the final ball just wasn’t quite there. The half was to end with Sheffield still leading 5-0.
During the after-match hospitality Shep was to romp the DOD vote for forgetting his shorts. Chocolate and Von Ryan were both in the frame for MOM but the blazer was to be proudly worn by Tomahawk Bandit for his energetic display upfront.