Sgroliwch i lawr am y fersiwn Gymraeg...

[Editor's note - this may be appearing under the Men's Vets banner, but a quick glance at the photo down the page will tell you it wasn't exactly a South Vets side as there were some significantly under-aged players involved! However we don't have a page for 'South XI', which would have been more accurate. So the report sits here instead.]

Before the match, South's pre-match co-captain Shin Kim made the tactics clear: "We've got to pass around them, don't go through them."

Both sides started brightly, which for South was exclusively down to the most enthusiastic "1-2-3 South" shout all season, and early pressure led to the opening goal. Dan Loy tucked the ball home after strong play down the left from Tom Rosselli to Paul South. It wasn't long before Dave Griffin equalised for the Welsh with a sharp finish from the top of the circle. Loy then intercepted a defensive cross-field pass to put the local side 2-1 ahead. A number of opportunities to double the lead ensued but were either frittered away or deftly extinguished by the red defenders. Wales soon began to find their rhythm, winning more possession, being more clinical with their passing. Even young, sprightly Catley was outsprinted by a close-to-60 year old. Despite a string of saves from South keeper, Matt Saint-Gower, who didn't concede from a direct strike all game, Mike Kyriakides grabbed a second for the Dragons and the teams drew breath at half-time all square.

At the break, first half co-captain James Bailey imparted his wisdom: "It's working well when we go around them, let's not go through them."

Both sides picked up the pace and quality in the second half, except Colin T who started this half chatting to his missus. Welcome back to hockey, big man! Play was finely balanced and it was the Wales players' high degree of composure that saw them take the lead through a Gareth "the Lion" tap-in. He was too polite to roar. South equalised when a fantastic slap pass from Chris Pearson was deflected in by a diving James Bailey. They didn't look tired. Shin noticed Ollie looked tired. Ollie never looks tired. The Cambridge club might have been ahead again but both James and Nik Patel saw strikes rebound off the frame, Paul South's flick went millimetres wide of the post, and Rob Barton's snapshot strike was deflected just wide by the keeper. South's attacks were getting more desperate. At the other end Tom Rosselli's last ditched blocking thwarted a number of counterattacks. However, Wales persevered and it was Kyriakides who pushed home the winner for the Welsh when the ball broke loose after a defensive scramble. Well how did the ball break loose you may ask? Good question. What actually happened was their attacker was running straight at our circle, Ollie and Tom both guarding the top of the D. Before the attacker reached them Tom stepped on Ollie's stick causing himself to fall over and Ollie to drop his stick, allowing the attacker a clean pass to the back post for the simplest of finishes. An unfortunate Laurel and Hardy moment from two players whose performances were otherwise excellent.

After the game, second half co-captain Rob Barton reflected, "We went round them three times but through them four times."

Overall a fantastic and enjoyable game between two well-matched sides. South might easily have won the match but the gentle masters from Wales created an equal number of chances, exhibiting great composure and class. If the Wales captain, Howard Atkins, is reading this, a repeat encounter in the future would be an honour.

A massive thank you to Hannah and Amalia for admirably stepping up to the umpiring challenge.

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