A strong if not rusty Growers squad was on show as the tourists took on the might of Irelands best, Cork Harlequins. The Growers started well with a period of sustained pressure on the Harlequins ‘D’. Several clear cut opportunities were created, but the lack lustre finishing of the Growers forward line resulted in the dead-lock remaining intact. The Growers defence was untroubled as the majority of the first period was played inside the opponents half. Both Dave Green and Rhys Wynn were afforded the luxury of time on the ball to pick their passes, as the Growers pressed for the first goal. Strong work from the ever reliable (and one of the only players to still be playing) Rob Campbell and the rusty but effective Chris Pratt down either flank led to some good opportunities for the goal shy strikers. Tom Rooke and Matt Green both fluffed chances as the Growers seemed to do everything but score. After 25 minutes the Growers made a tactical change, bringing on the target man Gibbs and pushing Pratt to the bench and Knowling to the left flank. With his very first touch Gibbs had the chance to show the selection committee why he should have started. Good work by Rookie and Campers down the right created an open goal for Gibbs to tap the ball home. It was such an easy chance that he did well to miss the open goal presented to him! That’s why he was on the bench!! With five minutes of the first half remaining the Growers won a short corner which Nick Price coolly converted. Using all his experience he managed to ‘bend’ the ball, like only he can, pass the logging keeper, it was quite a sight to behold!

The Growers pressed on after half time, searching for the illusive second goal. The midfield was on top, with strong work from Froud down the left and Rooke and Dunn in the middle pressing the Harlequins back into their own territory. However, the Harlequins remained dangerous on the break and as the second half wore on they began to create a series of good opportunities. If it wasn’t for the outstanding acrobatic saves of Charlie Price (Euro-pipe 05-06), defending his goal with a combination of fine saves from very close range, the Harlequins could easily have scored 3-4 goals. His sublime footwork reminded me of the famous Hungarian fencer Aladar Gerevich, winner of 6 Olympic Gold medals from 1932-1960 (Stat!). As you expect such a performance was worthy of the man-of-the-match award, which was presented after the game.

Eventually the Harlequins did equalise through a shot from the top of the D. An unsighted Price had no chance and the scores were levelled. This was a wake up call to the Growers, still searching for their first Hockey win and wanting to make the tour a double success they regrouped and began to control the game again. With ten minutes to go a reshuffle in midfield saw Pratt move to the middle and Rooke pushing back up front. Some neat work from Pratt found Dunn with time to pick a pass,he found Matt Green in plenty of space inside the Quins D with only the keeper to beat Green finished comfortably to put the Growers back in front.

More opportunities were created for both sides inside the last ten minutes. Some solid defending from Nick Price, Jo Holt and Rhys Wynn, along with the ever-calming Dave Green kept the Quins forwards at bay. The game finished with the Growers coming out victorious 2-1, a fair result having had the better of the play.