Wind speed: 10 MPH South

Temperature: 9-11 °C

Conditions: Cloudy

Humidity: 90% RH. 

An aura surrounds the stadium, winds howling with clouds ready to burst into tears from the heavens above.

Tap, tap, tap. Pass, pass, pass. Shoot, shoot, shoot. Sticks begin to engage with balls. Skills are being sharpened for the battle ahead. After the big bulk from the long christmas winter hibernation the battalion is prepared and are now ready for what is to come

Whistle blows, “5 minutes” were called. Balls sent flying off to the side. "Sticks in!"

Rumble, rumble, rumble. clickity, clackity, crack. A mighty ROAR… "South!" echoes throughout the fields surrounding the turf. Trees sway with fear like the Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy. Cute squirrels scurry away.

Mother nature has graced us with her speed with the southern wind behind us.. We position ourselves in a solid formation designed by Alexander the Great himself.

After 10 minutes into the vigorous battle. The almighty Sir Seb falls to an ongoing injury, on the right side of his gluteus maximus (TMI? Maybe. But sharing is caring? wrong context? Whatever…). Screams out for a substitute! Dan is on call, ready to be summoned! Seb rushes into the bunker, attends to his injury, a hockey ball roll out was the prescription of choice… Sad to say… This could be the end of his services for the rest of the match…

15 minutes in, after witnessing our fallen comrade, the team got enraged and unleashed a new found power! From the distance in the bunker, I could see the ball get into the front line. It is received inside the opponents D. Joe.W used swift shot! //It’s super effective!

25 minutes in, the ball sneaks through to me up in the forwards. A quick cross to the centre puts it into a 1v1 with the keeper. Joe.W used slap shot! //It’s super effective!

35 minutes in, penalty corner awarded. Tactics can not be discussed. Alexander the Great has an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) on the strategy that was used; it's “top secret stuff”. Ball is deflected, bounces off the keeper. I catch the ball only to be met by hockey sticks clashing on the ground. I battle on the floor against the baseline, a struggle between life and death. One lifetime later…. POP! Ball pops out! Jack.C used push shot! //It’s super effective!

--------------- Second half commences. ---------------

Wind picks up but now against us, it gets cold, rain starts pelting down! Me and injured Seb holding the fort as the rain slowly creeps towards us, slowly flooding the bunker. 

15 minutes in, George calls for a sub. My time to shine… or so I thought. 

When your hands get too cold, the brain also freezes. I’m no doctor but google says “If the cold has numbed the nerves in our hands, then the brain can't get the same quality of feedback, resulting in clumsy movements and fumbling fingers.”. My hands were cold.

I take my first few steps into the front lines. Ball gets passed to the opposition in front of me.

I used tackle: *attack missed*

I used quick tackle. *critical hit*… Onto the opponent’s hockey stick //It’s not very effective.

*you have been paralyzed for 2 minutes*

//Achievement unlocked: Green card. *Back to the bunker I go….{insert sad face emoji}*

We played defensively against the opponent in the windy rain; maintaining composure, position and letting our opponent crumble.

30 minutes into the 2nd half, an encounter breaks out in our 16. Opponent strikes the ball, follows through with the swing of his stick. Right into Joe W's shin just a touch above his armoured plate on his shins. Another soldier injured, but this time to the blade of the opponent.

We held it though and ended the war with a 3-0 win