Before we get into the report I would like to get a few definitions out of the way.

Stick Tackle - A type of foul in field hockey that occurs when one player makes contact with another player's stick without making a play on the ball. Regardless of whether the contact occurs intentionally or unintentionally, a foul will be called.

Stick Block - A foul against the attacking player where they use their stick to shield the ball from the defender without actually moving the ball itself. (Keep in mind I had to create this definition given there was nothing immediately obvious through a quick Google search, one would say this highlights how rarely stick blocks are called up as fouls in hockey) [Ed - or it might show that some M2s players need to learn the rules as stick blocks are standard calls that Umps at higher levels are going to make]

Got it? Good this will come up again later…

It was a delightfully mild day, aside from the fact global warming is slowly setting our planet on fire, at least it gives us 17 degrees days in November. South 2s had no idea what to expect, our last two games had been a 6-0 win and a 6-0 loss, truly making us the embodiment of unpredictability. We were coming up against an unbeaten Kettering (5W 1D) so we knew our A game was needed and with Pudds incapacitated it was up to John West to lead us there.

The game started well, with high intensity, Kettering attacked well, we defended well, we attacked well, Kettering defended well. A key mention for Matt Lee who made multiple stellar saves (particularly at the end of the first half) to allow for a very competitive game. The first half carried through goalless, both teams frustrated, Kettering voicing their frustrations more so than South and thus earned the ire of umpire Nev. He warned them cards would ensue if the backchat continued. Surely after that no one would dare talk back to the umpire, onto the second half…

South came out the stronger team in the second half, good team play and our resident pair of slingshots (Tom Rosselli and Pete Richer) we’re doing a great job of cycling the ball to all corners of the pitch. Even Ali Hart was surprisingly composed, until he decided that commando rolls were a key part of hockey. South pressed well with a great pass from defence straight to Ed Creedy, where he was able to cooly slot the ball home, 1-0 South. There were still however 20mins to go and this game had very much become a ‘pressure cooker’. A strong pass from defence through to myself allowed me to drive forward using my infamous pace and skill, suddenly a Kettering stick clatters into mine when approaching the D. “Great” I think “I’ve probably just won a short, what an awful STICK TACKLE”, but to my horror a foul is given against me for a stick block, A STICK BLOCK?! [Ed - as an experienced Ump who happened to be close to the incident I'm confident Nev was spot on] I politely informed Nev that I disagreed with his opinion (In hindsight I may not have been as polite as one should be whilst living in Cambridge), sadly though in this difference of opinions one of the individuals was holding cards and promptly issued a green one. [Ed - self-inflicted springs to mind here...]

A few minutes later Nik Patel, widely known as ‘The Bad Boy of Cambridge South’ clearly felt his reputation was threatened with me receiving a card, so he decided the suitable way to react was to essentially attack a Kettering player driving forward at the half way line. Another green was issued for Nik and normality was restored. The intensity of the game carried through, the pressure all clearly got a bit much for Ali Hart who decided to randomly hit the ball off the pitch with no one around him, much to the dismay of everyone within a 1km radius.

Speaking of not handling pressure, a nice passing move between myself and Ed ended with me at the top of the D with space and time to make a decision. Do I shoot? Do I pass? I opted for neither and promptly handed the ball to the keeper for fear of making the wrong decision. It turned out though this was in fact the wrong decision. But it was fine, we were 1-0 up with 5mins to go, we can hold onto this lead right? My blundered chance won’t haunt me for the next fortnight right?? WRONG! Kettering attacked well and sadly managed to find that killer strike to equalise. Matt Lee’s (Also known as ‘Love Bug’ I believe) saves had been excellent but it turns out it is quite difficult to save a bottom corner shot with 20 people in your field of view.

Nevertheless the game finished 1-1, a shame to not hold onto the winning result but still a positive result against a strong team. Onto next week! I am off to overanalyse everything I could’ve done better with my top chance, this might take a while…