The Ladies 3s go adventuring in the Premier Division.

*Please note some names & identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.*

First the two fingers went up, and what was left of their legs kept running, then one finger, then the slowing clangour of the whistle. As the sounds of hip-hips sounded, oxygen finally started to trickle back to the muscles. It was over...

George sat hunched up in the club house, nursing her hot chocolate willing the bruises to fade and hope to return to her body, whilst the trickles of sweat dried up. Bitterly she cast her mind back to when all she had to worry about was the growing need to pee:
...
“It’s just nerves, just just nerves, after all how hard can it be? “
...
Of course, now – sheltered in the sanctuary of the club house, all too too late- did the memory of where she saw this mantra surface; a commemorative plague in a Chamonix pub. She sighed deeply, wishing fervently once more that Timmy had been there to cheer them on. She cast her mind back once more:
...
Standing, hopping foot to foot, fingers tightening the releasing on her stick, turning to Anne for a reassuring smile/
The whistle blew, and the beat began.

You want a goal? You want a goal? You want another goal? You want a another goal – you better work b/
The ball was passed, the ball was intercepted and once more Tipperlinn was animated with the caress of a thousand stick tackles and the questionably helpful mutters of “here” and “here”. The ball was passed, and passed again, and again leading to the oppositions D, where a final stick tackle led to a short corner where – sing it Phil - against all known bookie odds (based on previous short outcomes) the ball rocketed past the goalie. First attempt. Somewhere a coach dropped his Buckie: “Streuth Skippy, they only gone and bloody done it”. Hope rose in the ranks.
You want a goal? You want a goal? You want another goal? You want a another goal – you better work b/
And to work both teams went, and not just to perfecting stick tackles, shoulders tackles and more – there were short corners, there were some long corners, there were some excellent feet, and the ball went one way, the ball went the other, and every where the ball went at least 80% of the players went too – with some notable exceptions in the form of the Borders attackers. A break later, and with a classic make-your-coach-proud-two-on-one tapped it into the goal. One all. A second Borders break occurred shortly after. One – Two. You want a goal? You want a goal? You want another goal? You want a another goal/ three further breaks later and it was one- four.
...
George stared into the cup willing the milk skin to solve all with some mollifying protein wisdom; nothing.
...
Half-time, and Joanna, with the aid of Mr Sainsburys and Mr Haribo had come up with a picnic spread of wondrous proportions, though alas no ginger pop, and still no Timmy.

Half time comes, and half time passes and at the special request of the umpires the both teams decided to retire stick tackles from the match. George couldn't help but notice that the half-time sugar was having much the same affect as lemonade to Roses: We were passing and running, and passing and running, zipping in and through the Borders team. Followed by a the satisfying thwack as a the ball sidled into the dashboard. Two - four and the fight back was nigh. Right?
You want a goal? You want a goal? You want another goal? You want a another goal – you better work b/ But as with Roses, as it was with the L3s: suddenly spaces opened up between the defence and midfield: roll-and-go's became roll-and-no's; breaks occurred and eventually *whisper *goals. To the Borders. Did they not understand the inspiration beats were not for them? George return to her opening stance; breaks occurred and eventually "whisper" goals. Still to the Borders. Repetition is a tool to convince, however it was only after the final whistle blew did George find out the score: two - seven.
***
George swilled round the last of her hot chocolate- "How hard could it be ?" Well, there is always next week.

*The information in this report is meant to supplement, not replace, proper Hockey training. Like any sport involving speed, equipment, balance and environmental factors, Hockey, poses some inherent risk. The authors and publisher advise readers to take full responsibility for their safety and know their limits. Before practicing the skills described in this book, be sure that your equipment is well maintained, and do not take risks beyond your level of experience, aptitude, training, and comfort level.*