Eschewing the temptations of the Mediterranean or Florida for a mid-season January break, the Highwayman opted for Grove Park instead, and the not-exactly-overwarm dining area of The Baring Hall, for a team-bonding session that was very much a continuation of the first half of the season.

Discipline was generally good, the only card brandished throughout being captain Stephen Gilbert's one of an American Express variety. Clearly the strict Christmas diet laid down by the management had reaped rich rewards, with the entire squad shedding a total of 3 ounces over the holiday period, helped to no small extent by president David Maltman taking off his jacket early in the evening.

As usual, team stalwart Richard Cleall was everywhere, covering every inch of ground between the table and the bar, buying everyone an "energy" drink and returning with a full glass of red wine after each sortie. Phil Kinch asked Ravi Wickramasuriya for the salt, only to then remark that it was the first time he had received a pass of any kind from him since last season.

A major scare was averted when the landlord was about to report some very suspicious behaviour ... Mssrs. Cleall, Leverton and Gilbert kept their scarves on all evening (see photo), whilst strenuously denying they were part of any subversive plot by the Mens' 5s to get an even bigger squad in the second half of the season. Only the presence of the sartorially elegantly-suited Steve Miller prevented the police being called, as the bar-staff assumed quite understandably that he was from the South London Flying Squad. Unsurprisingly, the set-pieces were as poor as ever, with only the one short being converted by debutant Chris Smith, allegedly from a bottle marked "Single Malt".

The two best players on show were - as ever - team talisman Josh Clark, resplendent in a BOEHC red beanie hat, and the player-of-the-first-half-of-the-season, keeper Tom Conway, who kept to his New Year's resolution of staying awake for a full three hours without dozing off to sleep even oncezzzzzzzzzz!

Following the cancellation of the Holcombe away fixture, the Highwaymen will saddle up for the first time in eight weeks (hopefully) on January 28, 2016, to face down their perennial foes from Maidstone. Bring it on ...