Wrens Fly into Round 3 of the EH Cup
By Mark Rogers
GU14 Wrens 12 - 0 Hertford Lions (A)
GU14 EH Championships
Anyone expecting a quiet peep from such a small bird was in for an almighty surprise as the GU14 Wrens outroared the Hertford Lions in Round 2 of the EH Cup, colloquially known as the Round of 21.
The thick grey clouds that formed an anticyclonic depression over Hertford threatened to set the scene for a dour encounter. However, putting behind them injuries and international duties, a full complement of Wrens set about taming the fearsome Hertford Lions in a game that brought sunshine to the capacity crowd.
As one would expect from the King of Beasts, the home team marauded the plains of Hertfordshire from the go, threatening to make the first kill. It was a furious start but bit by bit the visitors took control, with Carter, Emily and Amelie dominant at the back and snuffing out any attack.
Marnie, Isla, Erin and Rosie commanded the midfield, ensuring that there was no flurry of feathers but the Lions were also resolute in defence, with Joycey, Tileena and Gracie unable to get past the claws of the ferocious Hertford keeper.
It was deadlock until the 20th minute when the breakthrough came from an unlikely source. Eva slipped the ball right from a penalty corner to Darcey, whose reverse hit was heading wide before Elsa snuck it past the goalie with something akin to a glance for four down the leg side.
It was first blood to the Wrens but the Lions were not about to roll over and have their tummies tickled. Back they came, the predatory felines hungry for a goal, only to be dispatched by Poppy's right kicker as an equaliser looked odds on.
The Wrens management had invested heavily in the latest AI, and used the revolutionary in-game player analytics to rotate the bench as Wren after Wren came on with fresh legs, slowly outrunning the Lions. The tactics paid off as goals by Hattie, Eva and Lizzie - all crackers - gave the Wrens a commanding half time lead.
The Wrens eased ahead in the second half with goals straight off the training pitch, and Lizzie's absolute sizzler of a reverse hit was the final thorn in the Lions' paw as the Wrens flew into Round 3 of the Cup.