Girls v Oranje-Rood

Won 5:1

Goals: Mya (2); Anna; Millie and Julia (an O-R player that we borrowed).

Again we opted to play 11-a-side (30 mins each way) to help our girls’ development and the improvement this match was pleasing. The first half was very tight and we kept on drifting as a team to the tight hand side of the pitch which led to the play getting congested. It was 0-0 at half time. After a brief discourse on roles and positions from the coach, the second half started and we dominated the games. Strong runs forward and much better positional play and distribution... at times there was some champagne passing Hockey out there. Once we scored one, we got the bit between our teeth and kept on driving forward into the D and putting pressure in their keeper. Gabby had little to do in goal.

Emma ‘the rock’ was in evidence again, stopping their attacks and thumping  along pass forward to the wings. Busy Bea was at home at right back, tackling hard and then driving forward. Mya was a revelation in the right wing and carried the ball beautifully up the ring and into the D. Anna was a handful for their defence both as forward and left forward. Both Lydia and Nikita payed the best hockey that I have seen then play: tackling, passing and working hard for their team mates. Issey and Millie stopped everything going through the middle and turned defence into attack. There were some great moments in this second half; there is still room for improvement however. A huge thank you to both Julia and Sophie from Oranje-Rood who slipped seamlessly into our team ...even though they did not really understand the halftime team talk!

Post match drinks with the team in the clubhouse was very pleasant and our girls really enjoyed the companionship of the Dutch girls ... what a great club!