|
Staff v. Student boys’ field Hockey – Friday, 5th April 2008 |
|
|
|
The now routine heavy shower flooded the Big Pitch at lunch time. However, by 4.15 p.m. sufficient part of the Pitch were ‘dry’ to allow the game to commence. An additional hazard was the roping off of the mud bank area where a retaining wall was being constructed as we played. This took out one ‘wing’ of the Pitch. The Staff side, resplendent in ‘Kingfisher Airlines’ red, managed to raise a squad of 14 for the game and this included a significant contingent of Reids / Stockwells. Neither side had a goalkeeper on the Pitch at the outset and it was, thus, in the opening 10 minutes that Naagin tapped in a shot to record the Students’ solitary goal. Shortly afterwards Danny Gill (for the Staff) and ‘Chesty’ Prescott (for the Students) took up their commanding presence in the goalmouths and ensured nothing got passed them. Jonny Reid (on the Staff side) had several narrow misses as he combined effectively with Mr. Graham from mid-field. Chan and Kynan proved very solid in defence whilst Mandip and Josh Rex impressed further forward. Chances feel to Staff attackers Messrs Sam, Vinoth and Reid but nothing went passed ‘Chesty’ despite the muddy conditions underfoot which made goalkeeping treacherous. And so it was that an evenly contested game fell to the Students. The Staff at least felt encouraged that a 1-0 score line was better than the 4-1 defeat last time. As darkness fell and the weather forecast was consulted for conditions at the Student Council event on the morrow, it was noted with bemusement that one forecast said it would snow in Ooty! So much for ‘April showers’. |