The Heat Is On at Hinde House

An Indian Summer had descended on Hinde House with the game played in sunny conditions and a temperature of 22oC.
The 3s came into this game in high spirits following the previous week’s hard earned draw at Worksop and a recent friendly win against todays opponents, Sheffield University Bankers 7s. Team news saw Boss Hogg watching this from the sidelines following the previous week’s muscle injury. Also missing was Dan Dare. ‘Rocky’ Pepperdine had been sent back from the 2s to resume his usual role as Chuckle#2 and Gina G returned to cover for Boss Hogg at Right Back.
The game started and Chap were straight on the front foot. They dominated possession and moved the ball around well, particularly looking good down the left side with Big Foot, Mad Max/Von Ryan and Tomahawk Bandit linking well. Infact Bigfoot from left back was spending more time in the opponents last third than he did in his own half. The wave of attacks was threatening the Bankers D and eventually led to a raft of penalty corners. A number of routines were employed with IceBurg, Bambi and Tomahawk Bandit all having attempts at goal that were either well defended or saved by the Bankers keeper. In their eagerness to take the lead Chap were guilty of pressing too far forward and often crowded out the space and got in each other’s way. This meant, though possession was being dominated, clear chances were at a premium. The half was to continue in this vain until the half time whistle was blown with the score 0-0.
The half time team talk discussed patience and dropping back 10 yards to create space for the forwards. This was employed in the second half and the pivot was able to come into play. Chap were still dominating possession but found they were up against a decent keeper who was snuffing out decent efforts by IceBurg, Tomahawk and Flavio. Patience though was to be the key and the key moments came in the last quarter. Firstly Hutch drove into the D. His soft push shot was collected by Iceburg with his back to goal. IceBurg did not get the cleanest strike on his own reverse push/shot towards goal and this at last caused a misjudgement by the Bankers keeper who, expecting the ball to go either side of him, was nutmegged through his legs for a jubilant IceBurg to celebrate at last giving Chap the lead.
Chap were at last able to relax a little and the tiring Bankers were to concede a second shortly after. IceBurg played in Tomahawk Bandit beyond the defence. Advancing on the keeper Tomahawk Bandit shot with a half-tomahawk that once again beat the keeper through his legs.
And so the score remained with Chap running out deserved 2-0 winners to move into 3rd place in the table.
After match Ranch festivities saw Iceburg narrowly hold off Von Ryan for MOM Starblazer with Gina G taking a unanimous victory in the DOD HotDog following both formation ‘change’ questions and leaving his stick pitchside and accusing everyone else of pinching his stick. To quote one vote:- MORON.