After last week, we were keen to find our winning form again - cue an intense session with Dave on Thursday night, from which my calves are still recovering!

Skipper decided we should also meet promptly at 10.15 to work through our cunning strategy…the meet time came and went and South players were tricky to track down. Eventually we found each other (WhatsSpp is a true life saver) to realise that our captain was still missing. Turns out she had a cracking excuse - attempting to the save the L1s' depleting squad. Bribes were offered to anyone willing to take a day trip to Spalding but in the end Louisa stepped up herself and headed off to catch a lift. It was a heroic move, and a life saver for the L1s but a sad loss for us, although it did make choosing our LOM a little easier!

There was the normal away-kit confusion with a couple of us turning up in purple and Tuffers leaving things a little last minute, after having to U-turn back for her yellow socks!

A last minute handover to the VC, and a run through of positions and some strong hitting practice occupied us whilst we waited for the second umpire to arrive; he arrived and promptly told us to crack on as he was in a rush…

The game started with a South push back and some initial sparks in the midfield, although Nomads pushed back and the ball was yo-yoed back and forth between the two teams. Nomads made an early play and managed to find their way through our midfield, and with some confusion over marking and a feisty attack from the opposition, the ball found its way into our goal. A disappointing start, but a good wake up call for us to sort out our shape, positions and marking.

We regained composure quickly and the mids began to find each others' sticks, with excellent assistance from Emily in the sweeper position. A few stray balls came down to our defensive line, but Ellie, Harriet and Jess made sure these were firmly sent back up the pitch, and the back-and-round move made a fair few shows!

Katie G gave us another demonstration of her silky stick skills and ability to travel around the Nomad defence with ease. Annie was on fire with great attacking play throughout and a super goal. Katherine H took home a double with Tuffers taking home the final goal bringing the end score to a four-one win for South!

Other mentions should go to Kate B for excellent runs down the sideline and Jess for a spectacular fall! We also saw Emily's darker side as Nomads had a go at trying to restrain her by literally holding on to her arm so she couldn't get to the ball. Jess W also nearly lost her patience by the rather long wait for teas at The Brook…after an hour wait our expectations were pretty high, to be met with plates of sausages, chips and beans - they must have cooked them in the January sun…

Comments from the sideline were positive and we were definitely playing more as a team, with some fab passing and use of the whole pitch. However, we do have far too many Katies, Kates and Katherines as well as a couple of Jesses - please feel free to change your names to make passing and subbing easier…