Having learnt my lesson from the last game (arranging a game against the Saffron Walden Under-15 Girls’ team) we contacted a university team, confident in the knowledge that you have to be an adult to study at such a place.

Without my efficient and organised co-captain Sophie being around to keep things running smoothly on the day, we naturally had a few issues to start with (which I'm blaming on a hangover from hell after the club curry night) including me running late, realising on the way to the pitch that I didn't have the club house keys, only having sorted one umpire and not knowing whether there was a goalie kit available. Luckily there were other more useful South members about to address all these issues for me.

Anyway, I’ll get on with talking about the game. So we started off really well, surprisingly following a below-par team talk and sorting out who was playing where (again I was relying on my more useful team mates to sort things). Emma, wanting to play up front in the hope of getting her first ever goal, played the ball to Joe (I'm sure it was a pass, not a shot!) and Joe smashed it home. A few minutes later Chris was doing his 'run around everyone' trick and passed the ball to Joe, who managed to get his second.

It was all looking good, except for Emma's 'swing and miss' routine which she blamed on her recent visit to the golf driving range. Laurie was also adding to the entertainment, not being able to receive a pass as she was too busy trying to sort out all of the extra equipment required to keep her on a hockey pitch.

Unfortunately ARU had a Chris Pearson-a-like, who was making mincemeat out of our defence, deploying Chris's signature ’run around everyone' trick and scoring to make it 2-1 at half time.

The half time break seemed to go on for ages. This was down to the uninspiring team talk that lacked content. Thanks to whoever it was who brought the Jelly Babies, yet another thing I forgot.

Having waited patiently for the umpires to restart the match, we quickly found ourselves level at 2-2, but thanks to Tim Clapp we edged ahead again. Joe, in the knowledge that he was one goal away from a hat-trick and subsequent purchase of a jug of beer, seemed to be missing chance after chance as if on purpose. Emma was also up to the same tricks, but perhaps not as prolifically.

Owing to a number of us suffering from the frivolities of the club curry night the previous evening ARU managed to monopolise in the latter stages of the game and they finished us off with 3 goals, making the final score 5-3.

Wizard and Hannah as usual had to get their full hockey fix by remaining on the pitch after the game and doing their trademark 'Hannah hits the ball to Wizard in the D who deflects it high into an empty net - repeat this ten times' routine.

More fun and games were had at the club house. Firstly, trying to get into the place was like watching a skill test on the Crystal Maze. Then the number of drink orders at the bar was overwhelming. It was excellent to see the whole team come to the club house (probably due to the pizzas) and it made the collection of match fees straightforward, although I still made a meal of that.

Special thanks to the umpires Steve, Neil and Tim; Sophie for sorting the team out when she wasn't even playing; Cameron for playing in goal and Jack for coming to support us. Another good mixed match against some nice opponents.