We set off to Leeds this week, having arranged to meet at the usual Wetherby location, however 1 car had to squeeze in an extra pre Wetherby stop for 2 Nana’s wees, but still made it in time to join the others. Car conversations were top quality as always – ironing, hoovering, murders, births (only in 1 car even though Becks seem to think everyone was discussing birth stories) amongst the important topics of discussion this week – Jemma even bought a book to read off the back of the stray dog conversations a few weeks ago so who knows where this weeks conversations may lead! A few people got overwhelmed in the shops at the services, coming out with a mixture of tasty and dubious purchases, most discussed being Jemma’s M&S peppermint bark cookies containing smarties disguised as sugar covered lentils.

We arrived at Leeds and headed to the cold changing room with 1 non flushing toilet for all the pre match nervous wees. Jules, despite deciding to ignore the sat nav when it said the A1 was closed and having to take a bird flu zone detour, only arrived shortly after the rest of us. After much Tiger Balm/ Deep Heat/ massage gun/ shoe horn use amongst us we walked the million miles to the pitch and got going with a high tempo warm up, then off we went in our new formation.

With only a few minutes gone in the first half, we had lovely passage of play ending with a sneaky goal from Chell. Leeds fought back making it 1-1 with a good goal from a short corner. Both teams were looking strong, and after yet another fantastic penalty flick (which shouldn’t have been a flick – one of the many dubious umpiring decisions from Pudsey and his younger side kick) save from Maggie we went into half time at 1-1. The second half started as the first ended, good hockey with some feisty play from both teams. Leeds managed to squeeze another one in, from which we very quickly responded a few minutes later to make it 2-2 from a cracking short corner strike from Izzy. Despite a warning from the Leeds players not to bother engaging with the umpires, they got fed up of Jemma’s chat even though it wasn’t even rude, or actually directing her frustrations straight to them, and showed her green (again dubious and inconsistent as the rest of the match had been!). The match could have gone either way and sadly Leeds managed to neatly pop another one into the goal. We had a short corner in the last minute of the game, and came very close, but sadly today it wasn’t to be despite a fantastic team effort across the pitch.

Only Jemma braved the showers, before we all headed back up the road probably a bit smelly but very happily full of macaroni cheese/ carbonara after undoubtably one of the best teas yet. Despite many nominations for silly sausage of the week, it went to myself, mostly due to the overall team jealousy of my ‘beavers playing hockey’ socks I suspect, and also trying to start the second half still wearing a bright yellow bib. MOM went convincingly to Rach for some seriously solid defensive play.

Written By Anna