Picture it can't you… Glorious Day… Sun Shining… boy's & parent's on a high from the slaughter we gave Highworth last week, and looking forward to give Stratton a right hiding… Great! End of the match, all heads down in despair and disbelief with coach Pont and coach Woody crying in their boots. Good job this was only a friendly.

   So what happened? The match was due to start at 10:30, or so we were told. We arrived at 10:00 to find the opposition waiting for us to kick off (that Malcolm, we hope Adam did well!). Anyway, after quick warm up the match kicked off at 10:15. The boy's started off well but I think the opposition were too well organised for our boys, they looked and played as if they came from borstal!. The opposition injured a couple of our players and the assistance of nurse Pont was required. Magic stray bottle in hand, she strode across the pitch to the applause of the crowd. She promptly treated the injured players and they were soon up and running around again. What's in the bottle Pont?… the poor kid's rolling around the floor in absolute agony, one spray from the bottle and hey presto, he's up and running around faster than before!.

   'Steady' Eddie and 'Bandit' Callum had several runs up the pitch but were shot down before they could reach their target. On one occasion, Eddie was running with the ball when he received a kick in the back from the opposition No:12 (got your number). The ref did give the offending player a ticking off whick I think was a bit light considering it wasn't his 1st offence. Tank, Chopper, Carlos and Jim all did there best to fight off the onslaught. Gavin managed to save the majority of the shot's but unfortunately 6 slipped past him. Jill was standing behind me and you could see she felt for gavin as I spent most of the match picking bitten off finger nails from the back of my shirt!.

   Coach Pont spent the match walking the sideline, chain smoking and waving his big stick. I could see the stress was getting to him as he went quiet in the 2nd half, or it could have been him thinking about poor Russell who had been injured and had to be subb'ed. Coach Pont looked like he was following the offending player up and down the line with his stick! (now… now… Steve). Man of the match went to Josh (I'll pay you the fiver later John) who along with Russell had their work cut out the whole match. Josh must have worked hard as he was in bed asleep by 8 and no argument… that's a first.

   Talking to the opposition coach after the match, he told me his tactics are to have all the boy's stay over at his house the night before each game to make sure that they're all tucked up in bed by 8!. What do you think Malcolm?.

   The boy's tried hard to keep the opposition at bay but it wasn't to be. They were all over us and always in the right place at the right time… but… they'll be another day.

      Better luck next time boys.

         Roving Reporter Bill Fail