Over the hills and far away, the L1s were off to play…in Skegness.

This story is a winding tale of battles and feasts. Will the thirteen intrepid adventurers return home unscathed and victorious from their quest up north? Bright and early they gathered to set off from Long Road, with the promise of a bacon butty at Peterborough service station enough to raise most from their slumber. All but one made it on time. The worthy Lemon Katie eventually arrived, with blood-stained shins and cuts all over. What had happened to this damsel in very clear distress? One suggestion was whether she had let a blind badger shave her legs. Alas not in this fairytale, the damsel was perhaps just a little less ‘Disney’ in her leg-shaving etiquette.

They were off! After a good two hours driving through the fields of numerous unidentified vegetables they arrived to face their opponents in pink. The battle commenced with a strong start from South's attacking lines. Carly was noted for her valiant hold of the centre midfield, with an amazing work rate and never-tiring legs. There was plenty of dominating play from the Cambridgshire troops, with Hannah Kenyon barricading the defensive wing despite being struck with this seasons lurgy. The first half was a tale of woe, where South went two-nil down. Yet flashes of glory from Laura-Hatrick-Ludlow kept spirits high as she rallied past Skegness’s defence, slotting the ball in from the right to bring us to two-one.

Making camp at half time, the girls returned to the field determined to see the battle through. There were a couple of rough and tumbles, some gripping cries of anger and a few casualties endured. The next two goals were stolen by Skegness but our defence was strong (Blythe, duly noted for her regular contributions to the fortress of the L1 defence) and the keep secured for our next wave of attack. Like a flash, Alice Wright, commended for her running off the ball, made magical passes for her comrade Katie to snatch and fire up the wing. The heroine of this tale was the legendary MOM, Hat-trick Ludlow, who scored another two to keep South in the game; now only four-three down and just as legs were growing weary.

The sound of clashing sticks continued as both teams put their bodies on the line in the name of glory. Sadly for our girls, Skegness got another break and shot one past our eleven dazed warriors, to secure their title and a victory of five-three. Match teas were cheaper than usual for some of the team. Blythe contested the title of Lemon by inadvertently charging her fees to the corporate card hidden in her purse…that was propping up the card reader… Not sure how she'll explain that one on Monday!

The troops turned towards home, a little deflated with a long journey ahead. Yet, how could they go home without first experiencing the beach and seaside in this far-away land. Although perhaps not quite as far as an adventure to the Atlantic shoreline where some of the team thought we were headed. They traipsed to the sandy pier for a photoshoot and paddle, some more committed than others to cold waters and crashing waves, but everyone enjoyed the setting sun, and moods lightened.

Thirteen left and thirteen returned; a shame to have lost but ready for the counter-match on home turf. Maybe next time it will be a happily every after?