Bright day, bright new season and bright hopes!

South are very fortunate to have established a great preseason and friendly relationship with our chums "down the M11" at Bishops Stortford Hockey Club.  This is the latest in an increasing number of recent fixtures played at the Herts & Essex Leisure centre.

The weather was hot and the pre match team talk was rushed as time was assuredly critical.  Not great for a team of players that were getting to know each other in terms of hockey, but a lesson learned in organisation for the Men's 5ths new Skipper Nev W.

The early exhanges were fairly even with Stortford shading the possession.  South were moving the ball out of defence and into midfield, but were struggling to exert pressure further up the pitch.  Unfortunately, when play broke down in the middle, Stortford capitalised with either winning penalty corners or creating circle entries with shots.  One goal down turned swiftly to two when the Stortford captain absolutely belted a corner strike ferociously between post man and impressive GK Dan T.  

South gained a foothold in the game when Nev W won a foul 10 yards inside the Stortford half.  Everybody seemed to move out of the way as he showed he was capable of hitting a hockey ball as hard as his counterpart.  Result, club record goal scorer Dr R A B delicately glancing the ball on his reverse side into the far corner.  HT C South 1-2 Stortford.

Despite some impressive performances from the South Old guard, "the Wolf" James P, "the dependable" Jan B, Andy "the new rock" M, Sandy "Midfield dynamo" T, Stu "Ball melter" C, James "Tackler extraordinaire" H and newcomer Rob H, South withered a little too much in the heat and conceded two more corners and an unfortunate goal from open play.

Another decent game and challenge under the belt to prepare for the new and early season ahead of us!

Extra thanks to Bishops' Stortford HC for being excellent hosts and serving a great tea after the game!