Farts beat YW 6-3

While i was relaxing in the hotel bar, eating a nice prime steak and watching the Wallabies demolish the woeful Springboks i momentarily considered the impact of poor and cheating officials upon the games we love.

The Springboks seem to be struggling because they now have to play with referees that don't just penalise the opposition and turn a blind eye to their prehistoric thuggery.

Fast forward 24 hours, and the news headlines in the Sydney herald are "Farts win despite cheating umpire". Devil-liers was interviewed by Channel 7 news, and was quoted as saying "you know i can't say anything, as I've been told not to, but if i did say something, which I'm not, then i would probably be saying that one of the umpires was biased, but good thing im not as then i'd have to apologise and it wouldn't look good for God to say he was wrong would it!

So the Farts came out eventual winners of a game that seems to have been well umpired at one end and well, one sided at the other.

For all the news lets cut over now to Robo, our on the spot reporter at the hockey

The pre-game was quite a trip down memory lane for the players, having played in the dark for the last few weeks we had forgotten what we looked like in sun shine. So we had time to reacquaint ourselves and catch up with one another’s lives. Families, hobbies, pets etc.

It was a game of two halves, the first half and the second. Luckily with only one sub the team made it through both. Nae Nae starting the strongest with good passing up front and a couple of near misses waking the opposition up to the fact Nae Nae had turned up to play and not only to chat to the ref.

After a couple of strong breaks good passing across the goal mouth saw Needles in good position to knock the ball in the back of the net. After another good spell we had  Legs  and Scotty bring the Farts 3 – 0 up. YW were beginning to look a little worried as they had the youth and speed. However the farts have seen this combination before and stood strong. YW came back of two well worked corners and the Farts went to half time 3 – 2 up, but with YW with the momentum. Another good stirring talk from Richard L  about keeping the passing going and keeping the talking going saw the Farts back on the field with the sun at our backs and the wind in our main sails. Good passing from for the first 20 minutes again delivered a string of good goals from, Cam, Scotty and Legs to put the Farts firmly back in control and had force YW into longshots and weak passes. Most of which we intercepted. Remembering the half time speech about talking we really started to kick in with the oppositions ref for the blind  getting most of it. The result was after several attempts YW managed to get another corner. This was followed by Adrian having a short spell on the side line as the ref was beginning to feel the strain and get stroppy. Even taking offence at Scotty’s laughing. Paul missed a sitter and the  Farts held out and completed the half with all 11 players on the field, the final result 6 – 3 to the Farts. Willy brought the OJ’s and it was good to drink in the sun for a change.

Highlights – the combinations up the front, good running from Scotty, Ants, Cam and Paul, when these guys were passing the opposition were really struggling to slow it down. Richard L did good distribution and coaching. The talking in the team to call people on and into position.

My MVPs, 3- Legs, 2- Scotty, 1- Cam though Veitchy and Richard also played well and deserved to get mentioned in despatches.

1 to wily for oranges and Glenn again picks up a bonus point for umpiring


Goals
2- Legs
2- Scotty
1- Cam
1- Needles

In other developments, Needles was again asked his expert opinion on how the game was transpiring (like last year) "In the first half, I yelled out a few comments to the ref (naturally just encouraging him for the very fine, accurate decisions he was making at the relevant time).

He stopped the game, and called me over to tell me off.

Scotty came to the rescue and, quick as a flash, informed the ref that I was actually talking to him, and not to the ref! Even I hadn't thought of that.

Result: green cards to both Scotty and I.

As always seems to be the case: on those rare occasions when I receive a card, my family just happen to be there, and my boys are now very interested to know precisely what transpired between the ref, Scotty  and I!"

So there we go sports fans, an action packed day, and a good lead in to next weeks clash of the Titans, the Old Farts V The Young Guns.

Ill bring the Oranges, see you all there.