Mens 1 vs Hertford 1

This week we were dropping like flies. Ian Durbidge suffered a hurty knee, James Singer had a strained back and Mark Hoefield's hamstring was only good enough for a 4min26 paced 10km on Friday, and also to attend an England O55s hockey trial on Sunday.

Against Hertford we faced a familiar foe. Happy Flickmore playing centreback threw more accurate aerials to their forwards than Patrick Mahomes achieved on Sunday night. Plus more chat was produced than Shane Warne in his prime.

I'm struggling a bit with writers block at the moment, there's a good write up of the mixed team's shenanigans on the website so I encourage you to go and read that. Spoiler alert - they lost.

Mum - I did find a photo of me though, look!

Charlie K was back in the fold, having been playing at centre back for the 2s he of course was put up front. Looked to be a stroke of tactical genius when he got folded in two (he was OK) and earned us a shortcorner.

Less OK was George's left quadricep after I shelled a "cross" above knee height into his leg above the knee. He sort of took it like a champ, there were no tears.

Rob Walker ran to Hertford, played the game, and ran home. mumbling something about hockey getting in the way of him hitting his weekly kilometre count.

Andy King in goal was resplendent in Yellow. It must be the one benefit of being a keeper in that you can choose your own outfits. He also made a save or two which was nice.

At half time we were 1-0 up.

In the second half Hertford got the ball into our goal when none of their players touched, yet en masse they whooped and hollered back into their own half. The umpires made the correct call as no goal and on we played. Funnily enough 5 minutes later we got the ball in their goal without touching it, not a single Harpenden Gentleman whooped nor hollered and we simply lined up for their 16. #honesty

At full time it was 2-2. Hertford's second equaliser came from short corner taken to the near man whose flicked shot hit Nick Kimberly's stick, then my stick, then Tom Bunbury's foot, then Andy King's foot, then went in the goal. It's not you day if four contacts on the ball don't stop it.

Hot dogs were wolfed down in the clubhouse before we raced home to see England nick a win against the French. Fin Smith you kicking machine!

Blueharts on Wednesday evening at Woolams - if anyone wants to come and support in near zero temperatures?