Mandy Walker Games - Hockey the Winner and Honours (almost) Even

Men's 1st XI - Accies 2: Students 0

After a few comprehensive drubbings for the students over the last few years, this year's encounter always promised to be a much tighter occasion. Epecially given four of the students 1st XI had played regularly for the Accies mens 1s in the league.

For the Accies replacing those players meant the welcome return of Amandeep Bolina: 2 years of bathing himself in the cleansing waters of The Ganges appeared to have washed away all his ills, as he made a storming return at the centre of defence. Another welcome return was made by Rides - last seen in Accies colours circa 9 years ago when delivering a tour de force performance leaving Donc in tears at the Canterbury Hockey Festival. His reappearance in the purple sash was no less impressive as he put Evander "The Real Deal" Francis firmly in his pocket - and they need to be capacious pockets when you're tackling a man whose daily calorie intake would rival some of the lesser African nations.

As for the game itself it ebbed and flowed, with the Accies having the better of possession but, in scenes reminiscent of the league campaign, failing to execute in the final third. Even the return to 1st XI action, of Antonio 'Ravanelli' Beale failed to inspire a cutting edge in the 25. The students were slightly better at carving out goal scoring opportunities, but Dan 'KT' Borg (particularly enjoying the monkey suit in the 85+ temperatures) was in fine form between the sticks and shut out a series of one on one chances.

0-0 remained the score as half time came and went. Ollie Davies counseled the old boys to not turn it into a 'foot race', but it seemed to be the students who tired first as about 15 minutes into the second half the Accies finally opened the scoring. Eb Mukhtar rolled back the years to deflect a penalty corner high into the net, and then shortly afterwards Ollie Davies was similarly clinical with a corner rebound to make it 2-0.

Just as they were taking comfortable control the Accies started to lose their discipline - with a couple of successive yellow cards. First George Foxall forgetting it was a hockey match not a Kendo tournament, as he took a samurai sized swing at an aerial ball - and when Rides got trapped in the Real Deal's orbit, he could only break free by gaining leverage with his stick. Being short-handed ended the game as a spectacle as the old legs began to show and it was time to hold on to what the Accies had.

The most closely fought match for more than 5 years, and with so many fine young players on show there should be many promising years ahead for both students and Accies. Many thanks to Peter and Sue Redshaw - wonderful supporters of UCL hockey for more than decade - who kindly umpired the game.

Ladies' 1st XI - Accies 1: Students 1

To follow

Men's President's XI - Accies 3: Students 3

Having cast the recruitment net as far and wide as the Middle East a few old faces were recruited to bolster a depleted squad on what surely must have been the hottest day of hockey ever experienced outside the confines of the Costa Tour-ada. With the 1s lacking strength in depth our cause was further hampered by the poaching of our midfield lynchpin and elder statesman Dr. Amandeep Bolina.

With Budgie in goal and no recognised defenders in the squad the returning old sea dog Olli Back and our very own Orlando Bloom lookalike JC were re-deployed from the midfield and two last minute additions Jason and Yash came in as the fullbacks. 

With a bit of talent sprinkled through the midfield and forward line our team looked pretty good on paper and we went in to the match with a confident swagger (possibly underestimating our opposition as we did). In hindsight I should probably have tried to dissuade my team from sinking a cheeky four or five pints before taking to the field (especially as the students were not drinking) but it was a sunny day and spirits were high. Why stifle fun and natural exuberance on a day where Charity was always going to be the winner?!

As it was before we had woken up and realised we were in a game we were 2-0 down and struggling with the heat. Games are quite often won and lost on moments of madness or magic and it was definitely a case of the latter being so as the ever dangerous Pears picked up a sideline ball from Balch, turned two men before beating another in the D and slipping a delicate finish in to the far corner past Varun Varun Varun is on fire. Game on. 

Coming on the stroke of half time the goal galvanised the rocking Accies and set them up to have a real go in the second half.

With the wind in their sails the Accies upped the tempo and came out all guns blazing as the second half got underway. One slight problem though, the students scored again. On the counter attack. Somehow with the Accies camped in the Students half the young pretenders mustered a swift and incisive attack which culminated in Hamid sticking one in the top corner. Yes, you read that correctly. 

Not to be undone and with large portions of pride at stake the Accies continued to push forward in search of the goals that would bring them parity.........and they only went and got them. Wave upon wave of attack resulted in a number of chances falling their way and ultimately the Accies will feel they should have won as first Oldnall blazed over from two yards out and then Hughes came agonisingly close at the far post. As it was two excellent individual efforts from the evergreen Tej Singh – veteran of about 15 hockey tours meant the spoils were shared in what was actually a very well contested match.

My thanks go to all the Accies and guests who turned out on one of the hottest days of the year to put their ageing frames through one of the most rigorous of workouts in recent memory and to the students for collapsing and letting us take a point (and very nearly all 3). My thanks do not however go to the members of the first game (you know who you are) who deemed it acceptable to have 2nds/3rds at the bbq and deprive my team of food!