Ladies and Gentlemen.......Roll up, Roll up

Ladies and gentlemen, hush please, for what you are about to witness has never been attempted before. Captain Whitney and Captain Ferguson will attempt to select two teams of twelve players while only having twenty available !! They will juggle these players between the French Alps and the Kent countryside, whilst at the same time enjoying a holiday, keeping all umpires intact and having a life !!!
You gasp, and rightly so.
A juggling act that has been performed on many an occasion.
But never on this scale.
Silence please...........

Stu Mac, to you in France, cant make the time, back to me in Kent, Jamie C, he can do the job, over to france, needs to baby sit, back to me, Dave Leverton, out goes the message, no reply yet, we'll hve to keep throwing him up in the air, Tino, to France, no chance, back to Kent, Browner is around, he needs to umpire the 2's, back to Kent, Dave Leverton replies, it's over to France, Carney and Ross, but the rugby is on, come on boys, and it's over to france................
And so it continues
Throughout the afternoon the crowd watch in awe as captain Ferguson traverses the moguls whilst balancing players in both hands, and Captain Whitney nods at his good lady, "yes darling" he says, not knowing what he is agreeing to............

And finally it is over.
The crowd are speechless
Two teams of twelve are selected
All umpires intact
An amazing feat !!!!

And still to come was the additional umpire required, last minute non availability and re availability, a broken down car and two games of hockey !!!!!!!

So the Fives set up in their new home at Avery Hill. With a lot of new faces and a very young, skillful Brom Becks side as the opposition it was going to be a tough day at the office !! With Seb becoming available last minute 13 Fives hit the astro, Dynamo power boosting the day with Browner senior and junior, tom Farrant and Callum all stepping up.
And boy did they step up !!
Especially Browner junior at the back, who was rock solid, and Callum, who pulled it all out of his pockets, work rate, determination, skill. A top class debut.
But somehow, with the whole team playing well, the solid defensive triangle of Stu Mac, Jamie C and Tino, vintage Browner at attacking mid and the majority of the play, the Fives hit half time 0 - 2 down !!! The same story. Again !!!

The half time talk pin-pointed the problems. We decided the solutions. Could they be implemented ??

Ladies and gentlemen..........
Roll up, Roll up...........
And take your seats for the Greatest Show On earth !!!!!

The Fives took control again. They upped the anti. More fire more intensity. The line up was re - jigged and an unknown forward stepped up to spearhead the attack. Simple passes. Simple Hockey. An opening............
1 -2
Back in the game
The solutions were working. There was no panic. The show was about to get interesting.
2 -2
the unknown forward grabs his second
Game on
Sparkling, vintage Browner, he beats one, he beats two, he beats three, he beats the keeper.....
3 -2
Ladies and gentlemen....Hold on to your seats
Short corner.
Simple push, simple stop, simple shot, bottom corner
4 -2
The unknown forward peels away.
The crowd of 3 were awestruck !!!!

Brom Becks were however not finished and soon made it 4 - 3. Their most skillful player decided then to go it alone and try to pull back the draw but came up against Seb "the wall" Cox, and that was the end of that !!!

A tricky game to handle for Karen and Mark, with a lot of verbal during and after the game. Well done guys in your handling of it.
And obviously a big thanks

It was a really great performance from the Fives and a terrific 3 points. Brom Becks are indeed a really good side filled with young lads with exceptional talent. Even after a loss these lads joined us for tea and a chat, with smiles on their faces. Hats off to you young men, well done.

Final Score 4 - 3

Scorers - Captain Whitney 3
Sparkling Browner 1

MOM - "The Ringmaster"

Thank you gents, what a show !!!!!!