LX CLUB  1  v  Isca (Over 50)  3

Sunday 24^th October.

This fixture formed a part of the celebrations of the winning LX Red team in Capetown and an excellent Saturday evening’s entertainment had been very well organised by Bill Goodridge. The evening at an hotel on Bill’s home patch at Dawlish Warren featured an excellent meal followed by champagne ‘on the house’ with the entertainment provided by a very professional and very good jazz band.

The following day at Exeter was blessed with sunshine and playing conditions were excellent. LX had the unusual luxury of a squad of 13 and the rotation system worked very well with all players getting a fairly even amount of pitchtime.

Isca included LX member Paddy Maher in their team and they started very well passing the ball around at pace and soon had LX defending in numbers in their own 25 and having great difficulty in advancing into the opposition half. After wasting some good opportunities Isca eventually took the lead in a bizarre manner when a cross in the circle was inadvertently converted at the far post by an LX defender whose name will not be mentioned but he was not in the LX squad in Capetown!

After this unfortunate goal LX came into the game with Brian Hiscock playing well at the top of midfield and linking up well with clubmate Parmi Bolina and Geoff Lucas also working like another trojan in midfield. However Isca always looked dangerous when LX’s attacks were broken down by a resolute Isca defence and from one quick breakaway they doubled their advantage to go into half time 2-0 in the lead.

At half time it was agreed to revert to three in midfield and three up front and LX began to play much better hockey, keeping possession and mounting more forceful attacks and from one such move LX got a goal back when an Isca defender deflected a Roger Girling shot past Paddy Maher. LX continued to press strongly for an equaliser but with five minutes to go Isca scored a third to end up as winners by 3-1.

The after match meal and drinks were enjoyed by all and Winston Bower was congratulated for his organisation and due thanks were recorded to Mike Harris, who, although injured and unable to play, wore a very fetching pinafore in the kitchen and to the umpires and the support from the ladies.

Team: Bill Goodridge, David B Read, Alan Muller, Mark Watson, Brian Stokes, Paj Singh, Geoff Lucas, Ray Jeff, Roger Girling, Brian Hiscock, Trevor Denison, Parmjit Bolina, Max Hamber.

Reporter: Ray Jeff