Jokers 1 - 2 Epsom 3s (H)

Team: Haycroft (Capt/GK), Barnicoat, Sayer, Sait, Foster, Bloxham, Hardy, Bowen, Mallinson, Balbarnie, Carlisle, Cox, Dye, Walbran

Umpires: Oliver Fitch, Helen Waugh – well done and thank you!

The build up to the game was the usual chirpy chat: Tony's annual black tie trip to Nandos to collect his 'best barrister' trophy (they've kept it there since he won it in 2017 so he can re-live the moment); social delegate TBW’s injury woes not stopping him from getting to the pub (great early commitment to the new role); positive encouragement to Jabba, his team could just squeeze through to the quarter finals.

But as the game day got closer there were signs of concern on the Jokers chat with Covid and injuries sweeping through the squad of 17. With a slightly depleted team from the original squad we rolled up to SHS ground with what appeared to be a healthy 14.

Epsom team rocked up, a mix of youth and experience - always a worry for Jokers as we work well against experience, not so well with youth. But we were confident after our recent games that we could pull out a winning performance.

The team appeared to start well, we strung some passes together and fired some nice first time touches down the lines from Jim and Bloxy. But as the game progressed Epsom broke through with some early attacks as we failed to pickup their forwards. Was it Covid spreading like a wildfire through the team or just the scorching summer temperatures in winter turning us a little lacklustre?

Eventually we let Epsom have a 3-on-1 opportunity against Big T (he always appreciates being part of the game). After saving the first three shots the defence looked on, still stationary, hoping all would end well. It didn't.

Remarkably our lethargy left us momentarily to allow us to equalise only a few minutes later. Clinical finish by Philip. This confidence booster allowed us to relax back into the Covid/heat exhaustion effort levels. It showed at the next short corner with Foster losing his head and roofing it with the first shot on goal, then following up later by slapping the ball into the side netting. We limped on to half time.

Half time pep talk - more effort and more press, we have this boys.

Second half continued very similar to the first half, but this time with less energy and less press (was Foster supposed to be pushing up?). We battled through our own inability to consistently play well, but there are only so many opportunities that you can give an opposition to score - most coming from Foster to their centre forward. However, they preferred the set piece to open play goals and eventually spotted the stationary foot of Saity in the D.

2-1 down, but with ten minutes to go we attacked as aggressively as England (missed tackles, missed passes, missed goals - Foster again on the short corner). Unfortunately unlike England, we didn't have our saviour scrum-half 'Tommy Care-for-Beer Williams' to roll off the bench and rescue us. Eventually, the umpires just felt sorry for the 14 heat-stroke victims and blew the final whistle to put us out of our misery.