I hope players aren't getting too despondent over our results so let me reassure the younger members of the team that over the course of your, hopefully, long careers that for every season that you barely win a game you will have a season where you barely lose a game; that's life, as they say.
But, I see improvement each week, and let's not forget that to get into our team, qualification, with the odd exception, means being under 15 or over 60 so the bookies favourites will be the teams of 20 and 30 year olds that we come up against This week I was really impressed by the commitment of each player and particularly the youngsters who compete readily against opponents with much more experience and size and we're starting to appreciate that we won't concede goals if the ball doesn't reach our "D".
I have a slight defensive bias but safety first at the back please is what wins championships. It beats me why centre forwards (in football) command such high transfer fees when in every sport I know, football, rugby, hockey, lacrosse, championship winners are not the top goalscorers but teams with the meanest defences and we defended resolutely on Saturday so well done. As for the match, well, I thought we had more of the ball than in most previous games although I can't recall any highlights so I'll leave it at that and I won't single out any individuals because I thought everyone played well. Let your man of the match votes communicate those worthy of particular merit but I will add, on a personal note, that failure to get enough support to enjoy our hosts post match hospitality meant missing out on the finest hockey teas in Essex and I know two of us, at least, were, despondent about that.

Match report - Hoppo