The 5s narrowly beat the 4s 2-1 in a clash of the titans (Actual score 2-5 to the 4s because apparently the first half of a hockey match isn't just practice and actually counts).

The most hyped game in the history of the 5s, the David and Goliath of Hockey, the underdog story... but this wasn't a legend, or a film and it wasn't a fairy tale ending... well at least for the first half. 

It was a bleak and dreary day for the 4s vs 5s match - overnight rain left Catz in a state similar to an ice rink - a misplaced foot would most likely result in either the splits or ending up on your backside, trying to stop was impossible and 90% of the players eventually ended up with loverly brown smudges, especially on the white shirts of the 5s. The teams were shuffled before the game - controversially Joe robbed James S, who we only realised mid-game actually organised half the team in defence - but Joe gave Tom R back to the 5s.

The 5s were confident they could perhaps upset 4s, but within the first minutes that dream began to slip away. The 4s started on the attack instantly and managed to grab a quick short corner. Nothing new for the 5s - we all had people to run to and Lino in goal so we weren't too concerned... until Boris injected and everyone in the goal mouth proceeded to slip as they came off the line.  Joe slipped the ball to Dave who cracked a ball into the goal 0-1 to the 4s. The first half continued in a similar manner with the 4s dominating much of the midfield and and sloppy play by the 5s leading to easy dispossessions - the 4s used their speed and fitness to take multiple 5s players out of the game with good passing moves and well timed runs. A goal was scored in open play when the 4s managed to beat the midfield and enter the D unopposed. Two more goals followed shortly after - but a cracking penalty flick save from Lino prevented a 5-0 scoreline before halftime. A tough start for the 5s... 

But the first half was just the warm up - and the 5s knew they could surprise the 4s - so as the second half began the team looked to hold back the 4s long enough to get a some strong counter attacks in. As predicted the 4s pushed more players forward, with less returning after an attack - and they also managed to confuse their own defence with substitutions.  Owen, Rob and Doug were making runs on the wings to create chances in the D, and Simon was creating space around the 4s defence who had been rather resilient in the first half. The back 4 of Howard, Ian, John and Tom were preventing most attacks and even defended a few short corners successfully. This half was looking a lot more positive. Simon even managed to get a goal back from a scrappy short corner, could the 5s do it, could they come back and punish the 4s? A counter-attack passed out from the battling defence found Simon and Andy who split the 4s defence and Simon scored another close range goal that put the 5s even closer to a comeback. 

The last 10 minutes of the game were tense - 4s didn't quite have victory in the bag, the momentum was with the 5s. Another failed attack saw the 5s counter again - Tom charged down the left from defence and saw three 5s players against a lone defender. Simon was through on goal so, Tom looked up (a rarity) and placed the perfect pass- but a lack of communication meant that he neglected to tell Andy to leave the ball, who received the pass directly into the defender. One pass... one pass between a comeback and a sealed win for the 4s. The ball went straight back down the way it had come - Tom too busy having a temper tantrum was late to pressure the player and was quickly passed out of the game as the 4s found space were he the LB should've been. The ball was crossed into the D were the 4s attackers were still camped, and a goal was snatched. Final score: 5-2 to the 4s...

Next week the 5s return to face City... that should be fun.