THE RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE (WELL....HIGH SCHOOL)

The training was complete. Cold showers taken daily, raw eggs consumed and hockey sticks constantly whacked against carcasses of meat. Pre match banter over with and the teams ready to go. Tension could be felt. Was the match going to live up to the billing.
The Rumble In The High School!!!!

Round 1
BOE start slickly, passing, weaving, controlled hockey. OB had different plans. It was instantly physical. Bit of shoulder, lot of stick,bit of chat. Niggly. Shoulder to shoulder the boys stood firm, rising above the tactics. Even spoils.

Round 2
Blows traded evenly at the start of the round. Free hit for us, free hit for them. Suddenly there's a bit of afters and a bit of chat. It escalates. Free hit against BOE. "You're weren't 5". "What me??" "Yes you" "am I 5 now" "don't be sarcastic or you are OFF!!"
Calm boys, stick to the plan. Hockey.
"We gonna show you how great we are"

Round 3
The plan takes shape. BOE fives pile on the pressure. They are moving swiftly, passing cleanly. It's cool. It's calm. It's quality.

Round 4
OB's are struggling. The pressure from BOE fives is relentless. They fire into the D. OB's are on the ropes. Left pass, right pass, flick up, keeper saves, they follow up, it's Ollie, boom it's in the next, OB's are down.
1-0 BOE.

Round 5
The chat get livelier. Blah blah blah. BOE don't rise. They stick to hockey. Pass after pass. Shot after shot rains in on the excellent young OB goalie. The pressure is telling. OB start to weaken.

Round 6
Tom is making his presence felt around the top of the D. Shoulder to shoulder he's giving as good as he's getting. Ducking and diving, weaving and bobbing, slickly he slides across the D and smashes the ball over. It's too easy. Super Stu is there to deflect in - "Thorns Style!!!"
2-0 BOE
"We gonna show you how great we are"

Round 7
The half time talk and break gives OB their second wind. They change tactics and move the ball around. BOE fives are caught off guard. They go for a shot, no it's a dummy, they pass, slap, it creeps in. BOE hit the canvass
2-1 BOE

Round 8
its crucial. If heads drop the contest takes on a new form. BOE fives dust off, shake their heads clear. They dig deep and look inside themselves. "We are what we think. Think winners" the game picks up for the fives. They are on the attack again. Pressing, pushing, threatening. Switching, moving, OB start to struggle again. Suddenly it's in the D, it's moving around, slap, it's in the net, super Stu hits hard again and OB's are down.
3-1 BOE
"We gonna show you how great we are"

Round 9
Initial tactics resume with a lot of blah blah blah and a bit of afters. BOE break clear, oh no there's some shirt tugging. Leverton hits the canvass. No no says the ump, illegal play - green card. OB' temporarily down to 10 players.

Round 10
BOE fives really turn it on "Ali style". Quick minds, quick feet, pure quality. OB were torn apart and stripped clean.

Round 11
OB's find themselves on the ropes again. They are tiring. Their clearances weaker. BOE fives pounce. The ball slams in and Dan is on hand to re direct the ball into the goal. OB,s are down again.
4-1 BOE
"We gonna show you how great we are"

Round 12
The last round is under way. BOE fives have a points lead that can't be overturned by the end of the game. They lose concentration momentarily and OB's pounce. They slot home to end the game.
4-2 BOE.

Hands in the air BOE fives are victorious again. A hard fought battle.
It was once again a classy performance from the fives and 3 more points closer to the prize!!!!!

Thanks to both umpires for maintaining order in a game that could easily have produced a lot more cards than the single green awarded. It was also very refreshing to se the young (but exceptionally talented) OB's keeper leaving the field shaking all our hands with a smile on his face. Well done young man.

Man of the Bout was shared between Alex Muntus and Tom Davies. Excellent guys.

Match report inspired by this weeks motivational speech featuring Mohammed Ali and Rocky.
"We gonna show you how great we are"!!!!!