Premier Team vs Reddam First

Reddam has 15 field players, plus a second goalie. They did not have a good game yesterday against Rondebosch, and will be looking to do better today. We have Jeff, Pete, Phillip, Nic, Mayan, Max, Chest, Ben, Lachie, TC, and Harry, who leads a Grammar cheer.

Chukka 1: Mayan swims, but Reddam are quicker. And they get the vital first goal. Straight away, our guys are under serious pressure, from a tough, fast team. A couple of sloppy passes, and some referee decisions that go against us, mean that Reddam get an early lead to finish the quarter 5:1, with Jeff scoring our only goal so far. Our defenders have been doing a good job, under serious pressure from Reddam's premier team, in their premier sport.

Chukka 2: Kurt steadies them in the break, before Mayan swims again, with a fierce battle on the half way line winning us the ball. A blatant foul against Peter, and the refs make a mistake, which takes some time to put right. Unfortunately, we can't get a goal, but Reddam turns it around and scores. 6:1 down with some rough play. TC sets up Phillipo, and we score, but this chukka brings out the Reddam physicality and some referee decisions that allow swimming over. Reddam briefly have two number 11's in the water, and a player fails to get out after a foul. Kurt educates the referees, but their decision stands, and we play 6:5, Lachie managing to eventually get the ball to dribble into the goal. 7:3 down. Then TC scores using that left shot of his. It's attack and counter attack with Harry facing a great deal of pressure. Ben gets in a beauty back hander, and Pete and Harry stop a fierce attack. A great deal of holding and underwater rough stuff, and the referees are struggling too. 8:5 down at half time.

Chukka 3: The battle of muscle is not going our way. Can we win the battle of control? The referees commend our boys so far. Phillip swims, but a referee glitch means they swim again, with us losing the ball, but Phillip now successfully defending the goal. Moments later, Max attempts his by now signature lollipop, but the Reddam goalie is too good. A time out by us does not nett us a goal, but Reddam can score, and does. Chest wrestles in the hole, but the defense is too strong, and they keep scoring using 6:5's as well. Nic defends and prevents another goal. 13:5 down. Our boys are still working together consistently, which is more than I can say for the referees!

Chukka 4: Another swim to them. A Jeff to TC goal comes from a 6:5 at last. A Peter to Chest attempt is just not quite in. 14:6 but nobody is slowing up. The game is fast and fierce to the end, but the score stands:14:6. The Premier team is beaten by strength, not size, physicality, not a lack of courage. They played hard to the end, for a loss without shame. And maybe a few reminders to stand them in good stead for the coming season back home.

The Parents