As we left Cambridge the skies had started to darken...by the time we got to March it was well and truly hammering down! With only two cars arriving a little later than we'd have liked to warm up (ten mins before push back time) and the other car nowhere to be seen, we requested a delayed start.

Eventually Loopy, Naomi, Lottie and Ley came running on to the (wet) pitch and we commenced what we always knew was going to be a challenging game against a very skilled opposition.

The first half was tough. Again this week, we had a team who were not used to playing with each other, with some new faces - but we did improve throughout the half (even if the rain didn't). Newbie Polly saved us on a number of occasions with some brilliant tackling and great defence. Loopy, straight off the L1s' pitch as usual, managed plenty of dives and was saving goals left right and centre. We did give her more of a rest in the second half though!

Naomi managed a number of breaks, often picking up a well positioned ball from Esme or Lottie, but their midfield were extremely good at turning that over just before it got to our forwards.

3-0 down after the first half, we kept our heads high and the second half was a totally different game. We immediately took possession of the ball and Naomi, Cath and Dani managed to get the ball up towards Ley, Jo and Hannah on a number of occasions.

This half the press really came together and we managed to keep the ball in our half by not giving them any options.

Esme, Lottie and Polly did a brilliant job of pushing the ball back up the pitch when it got back the wrong side of our half. Coral went in for some brilliant tackles and managed to run despite being extremely hungover and being sick just before the game...although the ball to the face probably didn't help too much.

We conceded only one goal (from a flick) during the second half and despite another loss we played some very, very good hockey. A warm casserole and mash was the perfect teas for a soggy and cold South team.