South 2s put in an excellent performance against high class opposition but were eventually out done by a well organised and strong Ely 2s side.

South started the game sprightly, something of a minor miracle after captain Dave Aston had planned 24 substitutions in a 70 minute masterplan which would have baffled Einstein himself and confused Sanjay so much that he left the field of play on 8 minutes and 42 seconds assuming he had been subbed.

Despite Dave's best attempts to introduce quantum physics to hockey, South's play and movement was confident and flowing and they looked much the better team for the first quarter of the game. The pace and movement displayed by the midfield in particular showed South had more than made the transition to 4NW. However, as the half progressed, Ely's class showed and they increasingly pressurised South's 25, mostly through their speed and skill in the centre. They were kept out largely by some physical defending, not least from Ron (who displayed his "chopper" tendencies), and the left leg of a sprightly Shahbaz who sporting a pair of sexy blue kickers to go with the yellow leg guards to excellent effect. Several short corners were forced and won, one of which as eventually finished off at the near post. To their credit, South pressed forward and equalised almost immediately when Graham McCulloch deftly diverted a ball over the keeper's head.

Level at the break, South looked for an opening early in the second but despite stringing together some good moves, the Ely rearguard snuffed out the danger capably without looking overstretched. At the other end, South's defence manfully kept Ely at bay for 20 minutes, helped in part by the Monckausarus adding a new dimension to his defensive game with a brilliant stick save on the line. Unfortunately only moments later he was penalised for an even better kick save as he tried to stake a claim for keeper for next week. The resulting flick put Ely 2-1 up. Five minutes later, a flowing move saw a clinical third dispatched to Shahbaz's right and the Monckausaurus green carded for giving the umpire harsh words. Shahbaz made several fine saves including one which saw an Ely stick cartwheel through the air, but a 3-1 scoreline reflected the balance of play and the team never stopped running.

This was South's strongest performance of the season against a side who will undoubedly trouble the pack as the season goes on and there were many positive to take away. Except of course for the substitutions and Dave Aston disrespecting the sacred tin for a second week running. Fortunately for Dave (Aston) the other Dave (Monck) took the coveted lemon award in a close vote after forgetting his astros, giving away a flick and arguing with the umpire.

The report would not be complete without mention of Bav showering in his clothes ... no Lemon for that? We live in a strange world.