Ladies 8s Take Awesome 3-2 Win
By Ruth Banks
Barnes L5 2 – 3 SHC Ladies 8s
The Awesome Eights gathered in Shene to play Barnes 5s – our nemesis team from last season. The first good news was to see Captain Louise in full kit and back from injury; and playing with her usual aplomb – quietly picking up where we had (literally in my case) left off!
For a team that has only been assembled two weeks (having won at Bank of England the previous week) we were still on introduction terms before starting. This did not show in the level of hockey we were playing. We scored an early goal within five minutes, which hopefully set the scene.
Barnes had a number of short corner opportunities and I don’t want to Jinx things too early but we have managed to stave off all our short corner direct hits; Barnes did manage a superb reverse slap hit and score. Poppy our super goalie would have had to been a timetraveller and Olympic box splits gymnast to have rescued that from open play!
We had some wonderful passing between the forwards and mids – Niamh, Bean, Rachael, Hannah D and Hannah S and Mimi all playing blinders. Taryn dragged the defenders away from the Surby mids with Mary hanging high; all good tactics as Ruby and Debs managed to slam a few 16s straight up to the forwards.
Second good news was to see our ex-Umpire Sarah popping down to support along with all the trusty colts parents or parents of the non-drivers.
In the second half we saw the return of Crazy Legs (and maybe now arms) as Rosina stretched; turned and avoided several Barnes players single handedly to score. It was the decider and done in style – well done to Mary; Rosina and Charlotte the Bean Meister for scoring.
Third good news: RESULT: 3-2 WIN. We have to pay homage to Ali Quinn who has our been match report maestro for several years, coining the now infamous phrase #allaboutme. If I am to continue writing the odd match report – you will find me a) not as reliable b) never so witty c) delighted to be playing with some seniors and colts in this COVID-19 world #allaboutthenewme. Struth Banks.