| Team | Ladies 5 |
| Opponent | Ladies 4s |
| Date | September 7, 2024 |
| Result | Loss |
| Score | 3 – 6 |
L5s/L6s vs L4s
And we’re back with a bang!
Waking up to a grey and miserable looking morning, it must mean that the new hockey season is underway. To kick start us off, we had a combined inter-club friendly L5s/L6s vs L4s to brush away the cobwebs and get the first game under our belt. Or at least that was the intention – what those of us on the sidelines witnessed was something much better than that.
We did some slight jigging of the teams in order to even out the numbers, but for the best part both sides were made of up the majority of players in the L4s and L5s squads last year. From the beginning the teams were evenly matched, playing with energy, enthusiasm, drive and determination. L4s started off the stronger of the two teams, settling into their play a bit quicker than L5s/L6s and fighting for more of the 50/50 balls, but in true L5s style, ten minutes into the game L5s/L6s came to life and started really taking the game to L4s.
L4s scored some two lovely goals, working their play around the L5s/L6s and hitting the back of the net. Rather than their heads going down though, L5s/L6s persisted to push back and were rewarded with a really nicely worked goal before the end of the first third (we did thirds because…well why not).
Coming out fuelled on Squashies and Haribo, L5s/L6s continued their momentum and were rewarded with another goal before L4s extended their lead.
Going into the final third, L5s/L6s were caught on the break a couple of times allowing the L4s to capitalise, before getting another one back. Right up until the end of the match every player gave their all and continued to push for another goal. The final score was 6-3 to L4s, however that genuinely doesn’t reflect the performances we saw from everyone on that pitch today.
Both L4s and L5s are stepping up into the leagues above this season and considering that was meant to be the first game back to ease us into the season, you couldn’t tell. Everyone on the pitch dialed their play and performance up a notch. I think I speak for everyone watching on the sidelines, if that’s the performance in the first game, I cannot wait to see how the season progresses as it’s genuinely a fabulous time to be a part of the club.
Big thanks to our umpires for the day – David and Sid – and to the army of Lansdown supporters on the sidelines, including those who helped me with my two little “helpers” today.
