Pre-season preparations for the Mens 2^nd squad continued this week with a well-balanced fixture against Royston 1^st team who are competing in the parallel Div 2SW league this year. Last season they finished champs in Div 3SW with a +79 goal difference, so a great test for our defensive lineup.

South fielded an exciting and dynamic team full of fresh (and some less fresh) faces to the fixture. Notably Jude (and possibly Pash) made their debuts for the M2s – congratulations!

The first half saw a disciplined South hold their structure well against a clearly organized Royston team, all the more impressive given the pre-season mix of players and unfamiliarity in formation for some. We pressed effectively and contained a probing Royston attack, which had little success against a convincing backline of Steed, Miles and Weston.

Both teams had some D penetrations, with Chalk and Gando both showing their ability to get outcomes in that area, whilst Royston clearly looked dangerous when given the space to drive balls in. Ash took charge of the ensuing penalty corners but to little avail as the clock ticked down to halftime.

The late summer sun and preseason legs took their toll in the second half, with the game becoming more stretched. Royston played a very high, very aggressive press which Steed dealt amply with, working hard with Jude and screens to find the options out. South continued to apply pressure and were awarded with a series of penalty corners: Chalk lost his footing for one leaving him with a long walk back to the half way line. In another, Ash’s deflection yielded the only and winning goal of the game.

The dying minutes of the game saw a surging but arguably ill-judged South attack by Xabi, resulting in a quick counter-attack by Royston and a moment of danger as the 1-0 lead looked insufficient. Fortunately, Weston mopped up the fallout and South finished with a well-deserved win. For some, that late summer sun proved the perfect opportunity for a post-hockey game beer but for others it was a chance to paint a garden fence.