COWHC Men's 1s vs Gouda - 25th Feb 2018

On a crisp, clear, and bitingly cold Sunday afternoon, the CROWS 1st team faced the unknown might of the Dutch challengers from Gouda. The CROWS fielded a strong side, with ringers brought in from as far away as Milton Keynes.
I missed the pushback due to needing some lunch, but when I arrived ten minutes in, the scoreline was still at zero.

CROWS pushed forwards with some crisp transfers around the back, and before long had opened up a 3-0 lead over their European rivals. I'd love to tell you who scored and how, but in all honesty I was eating a burger and complaining about how cold it was, and did not expect to be writing a match report, so I didn't make a note of it. I'm pretty sure there was a goal from a penalty corner, and a slick deflection from CKS.
CROWS were unlucky not to have a 4th with a solid strike from Kumar-Shaw battering the right post.

The Dutch however maintained great shape and discipline, and managed to battle back to 3-2 with some excellent ball movement in the D before the whistle went for half time.

After a presumably stirring team talk from Coach Foley, and after the Dutch had had their half-time cheese, play resumed. I cracked another beer and was ready to resume my tireless cheerleading to stir the large crowd of spectators.

CROWS adopted a strategy of rapid position rotations through the defense and mid-field, which must have confused the Gouda team as much as it confused the spectators, as they seemed to have trouble pushing forwards into the CROWS half.

A well executed short corner routine saw the majestic CROWS extend their lead to 4-2. Despite strong defense from the Dutch, and a couple of missed chances including a spectacular air shot from Dom, CROWS looked in control of the play for the majority of the second half and were able to put away a 5th goal shortly before the final whistle. The crowd went wild.

Back at the clubhouse, the Dutch looked for a consolation by challenging the Mighty CROWS to a boat race, but were fended off and must now return to the continent knowing they were bested on all fronts.