A beautiful, dry and sunny day in Kingston and Reigate were up at Tiffin school for a U12 boys mini tournament v Old Kingsonians As and Bs and Ashford. We had 12 players, if we knew we had that many we would have played a 2nd side so please please update your availability on the website and then look to see if you have been selected! With 12 players we therefore pretty much had 2 teams with no time to change the goalie so we played the tactic of playing a stronger first half, getting a lead and then controlling the game after half time and it worked! First up were Ashford. We were one up after our first attack (Ed MacT from a rebound) . After multiple further misses we then slotted a second (nice slat from Jo) and then it was a bit like 6 nations rugby as we switched the team and then continued to play solid hockey and win comfortably.
We were then up against OK Bs. Again a fast start, but they kept us out for at least 3 mins before Ben scored and Adam got the second a moment later. The defence were taking things easy and we played some nice hockey with Dan moving nicely down the wing and Ben T starting to make the left back slot his own with nice strong tackling and a calm presence on the ball when clearing.
The final match was against OK As a much stronger unit and it was clear that we were going to be tested. The match started with the most beautiful sequence of the day that left the assorted parents and coaches from all teams clapping. OK As had attacked down the right with their best player from the push back. Ed made a reverse stick tackle and next to the left byline deep in our half, a quick reverse pass went to Joe who skipped past a player and then did a one /two just over the half way line with Adam and received the ball at full tilt down the left wing, he then brought it back onto his strong side and crossed it for Adam who finished beautifully low down against the 6 foot OK As goalie…. with only 40 secs on the clock.
OKs came back and just around the half way with all the changes happening we let in our first goal, after that we were not really threatening, Esmond had a little injury but it looked unlikely we were going to get back in to it. With 40 seconds left we threw on Adam for the final attack. The ball went to him from the 16, he turned his man, ran through the defence and scored the equaliser. A great end. Smiles all round. But morale of the story is, please tell me your availability and we can play more hockey! Thanks Ian