GU14 Eagles P - P GU14 Doves

History was made at the Reeds Arena on Sunday when twins Izzy Eagle and Charlie Dove were selected to face each other in the Eagles versus Doves trophy: the so-called “Battle of the Birds” and one of the headline matches in the 150^th anniversary celebrations. However, in the media frenzy that surrounded the build-up to the game, it was the twins’ dad Pete - proud as punch in his homemade half-Eagle, half-Dove costume - who had become a minor celebrity in his own right.

A petition signed by close to 50,000 fans had called in vain for Pete to sing the national anthem as the teams lined up. Clearly overwhelmed with emotion, a tearful Pete explained to the disappointed crowd that “on this great occasion, hockey really should take centre stage and I did not want to be a distraction or embarrass the girls.”

However, hockey did not take centre stage. In a bizarre twist, the state-of-the-art underpitch heating inexplicably failed shortly before the whistle, leaving the pitch frozen, play impossible and the authorities red faced.

After a flurry of feathers, any thoughts of settling the match through a game of rock/paper/scissors quickly passed, both teams in agreement that an honourable draw would be the best outcome for the Eagle-Dove household. And Pete could retire his costume – secretly hoping that his girls would be selected for the Flamingos or the Parrots next year - content in the knowledge that any competition between the twins was best left to a fight over the last roast potato later that day.