COWHC Men's 4s vs Surbiton Sparticans - 03rd Feb 2018

We apologise for the loss of last week's episode of The 4th Team due to technical reasons. This will be available on catch up soon. Normal service resumes

Season 17/18; Episode 15 - Showing signs

Monks Hill beach was the venue, the weather was cold, wet and generally miserable as Surbiton Sparticans came to play. They had put 8 past The 4th Team without reply before Christmas and, despite the conditions, were no doubt looking forward to another rout despite being away from home.

But the transformation is in effect and there is a lot more steel to the 4s now.

The match started slightly late due to the preceding game over-running. The lack of warm up didn't count against the 4s however, as we flew out of the traps, the pace up-front of Mulley and the Set-Square causing Surbiton some real problems. The pay off came midway into the first half when Mulley chased down the ball on the right, crossed and there was Nelly, unmarked in the middle, to sweep the ball high into the net. 1 - 0 to the Colonel's men!

This stung the oppo into life unfortunately, and they threw a wave of attacks against us. Some were repelled, but unfortunately not enough. The equaliser came after Bad Dog got the sport wrong and volleyed the ball several times in the D with his feet. Short corner conceded, and duly dispatched by Surbiton. 1 - 1

And then they were in front. A breakdown in communication at the back, the ball not cleared fully, an opposition forward unmarked on the post... 2 - 1 down.

The 4s were still creating chances however, but the conversion rate was not exactly Owen Farrell-like. However, as the Colonel pointed out at half time, we were far from out of it and had given Surbiton (cruising at the top of the league normally) a real scare.

The second half ebbed and flowed. Although the oppo had probably the majority of possession the 4s defensive line held until midway into the half.

A ball into the D went up into the air, evaded Old Man, was volleyed on by a Surbiton forward past The Bowl, and there was the same forward as before (I think) lurking on the post again to volley into the net. 3 - 1

Surbiton had their tails up now and were pushing for the jugular. Late in the game they won two short corners, but on neither occasion had they reckoned with the Old Man on the line. First, a drag flick was plucked from the air and cleared away. Then, a hard strike at the post was blocked down by his feet and again cleared. The combined stops have earned him a new nickname - The Condom (ask T V Carrachers!)

So yes, another defeat. And yes we're in a relegation battle, but this is The 4th Team and the credits haven't yet started rolling - the Challenger II tank can still be created even if it's from a load of cardboard boxes instead of a car chassis and some jerry cans.

Credits:
POM: The Condom
DOD: Jamie for going to the wrong pitch - despite given clear coordinates by the Colonel
Umpire: Jack