Sils 5s assembled their ranks for a 1/2 term affected foray with Rugby & EW, meaning the side was mainly players with several years experience (in life if not in hockey) under their belts, but with a dash of youthful spirit in the form of Frazer, Caylan and Dan G.

What was quite a defensive looking side on paper, this side played to its strengths, rode its luck at times, but ultimately worked really hard to put in a solid display which secured 3 points against a Rugby side who said afterwards that it was the best they had played so far this season.

Much of the game was played in the Sils half, the early exchanges leading to a few efforts from the visiting forwards, either by open play, or from PCs, but the Sils defensive line stood strong, and never really looked like they would concede.

In what was the home team's first attack of the game, James Snelus, working hard in the middle of the pitch, had won the ball and exchanged passes with Frazer Keep down the left. As the ball was played across and into the D, Dan Garstang expertly jumped in front of the keeper to ensure he could not get an easy clearance, and then as he touched the ball away from the Rugby GK, he then very unselfishly played the ball across to the far post where Caylan was on hand to calmly slot the ball home.

The home side continued to rotate its subs to ensure there was as much running in the team's old legs as possible, and by half-time the scored remained 1-0, though with Dave Higgins providing the other moment of entertainment as he riled the opposition midfielder which required some calming down - it was only after the game that we found out what Dave had said to him to wind him up so much! (Details not for a club match report.....)

The second half continued in very much similar vein, though with Sils exerting more attacking pressure than in the first half. Keep was full of running down the left, Garstang and Hayre providing similar down the middle and the right, but all of them willing to the do the defensive work as required - none more so than when Gurmukh Hayre had a bit of a loss of composure, and whilst he was 100% correct that he had tackled the opponent very cleanly, the fact that he had done it from only 1m away from the opponent taking the free hit led to him having a 2 minute break.

Whilst Sils did put some nice attacking play together in the second half, the second goal came from a slightly bizarre moment - a long ball from defence founds its way into the D - defender and keeper looking as if they had everything under control. However, the keeper then proceeded to kick the ball directly into the defender (who at this point was trying to run out the way) leading to the ball deflecting very nicely into the path of Garstang, who gleefully fired home - a great reward for the tireless running he had put in all evening, and none more so on this occasion when he refused to give up on what looked initially to have been a lost cause.

The game continued in its competitive spirit, with Chris Smith and Steve Aylin seemingly double-team tackling every one of the visitor's skilful young forwards at least 10 times, and with Dave Higgins and Simon Spain putting in great supporting shifts on the flanks, the Sils' game plan paid off. 2-0 and 3 points secured.

Lots of tired old men at the end of the game, Snelus apologising for his general mutterings during the game, and a proud Dave Burton as Captain who had worked just as hard as anyone, across multiple positions, to ensure the Sils won.

Thanks to Jack and Simon for umpiring what was not always the easiest game to keep under control.