Men’s 2 1 - 7 Richmond 1s (H)
By James Evans
A hard day at the office (Gooders takes the spoils in the first battle of the coaches)
On a day where the weather was changeable, Richmond turned up to play two hours early, showing their intent. Billy had a pre match croissant. Bean was off in Spain on a school trip? Dylan came home from the 1s. Dodders the goat got his National League debut at home.
The game started well, an early PC led to a trademark Doidge bullet into the right side netting for 1-0 and calls from Rhys of, “I’m feeling a Doidge hat-trick today” (it wasn’t to be).
Following this early success, Richmond scored some goals (which included a couple of PCs from Surbiton old boy Mings and some well taken team goals). The first half finished 5-1, the difference being that Richmond had taken all their chances and we had not. This was highlighted in the third quarter when Jevans (the fastest 2s player) missed an open goal in front of the hill. VAR is being contacted to see where that ball ended up as he doesn’t know. Billy also missed a chance that deflected to him off the umpire’s knee.
Some more hockey happened after this, Scott played Monopoly - passed go and picked up his yellow card for the day. Pitches these days seem to be a bit slippy in the second half.
Final score 7-1.
After the game we sat down for teas. Took a while to wait for Rhys… as we all know, he’s a stickler for hygiene. Bird and Doidge shared the spoils on POM votes - no idea who won the boat race. Doidge keeping it “ham and cheesey”. Rhys and Jevans shared the DOD. Some say Rhys is still at the bar waiting for the M2/L2 social to begin.
No game next Saturday with little appetite to enter the EH Championships now we’re in Tier 1. Next league game is Saturday 29th October, away at Brom Becks, where we’ll look to get back to winning ways.
POM: Doidge & Bird
DOD: Jevans & Rhys