A night of drama and suspense!

A Sunday night, Intrigue, suspense, emotion, action, was it the latest edition of TV1’s “Sunday Theatre”, no it was the Farts v Victoria 4 at NHS2.

A Farts team devastated by injury and absence (will it was down from the usual 17 players to only 13 (plus Glen) warmed up in what were unusual conditions given the recent weather, a hard dry turf, no wind or rain, and mild temperatures. Those that may have passed a casual glance at the opposition may have wondered where their team was, as it seemed to be only half a team warming up at the other end.

When glen blew his whictle for the toss up, it was obvious they only had 9 players. After a brief discussion in the pre game huddle the Farts offered to umpire the other end as well ‘until their extra players arrived”, a sporting gesture to be sure.

Robbie volunteered to umpire some of the first half.

After the hit off,  the game started at a ferocious pace, with rapid far reaching attacks by the farts, and just as quick response  by Vic to shut them down.  Even though they were down to 9 players, it certainly appeared like half of their team were of a higher skill and fitness level, and questions were raised with the umpires.

Vic opened the coring, an embarrassing situation for the Farts, with a full team against 9 by down 1 -0.  The Farts attack seemed to be stunned by the amount of space they had in the middle of Vics half, and threw themselves forwards like Ors attacking in “the return of the king”, onl;y to be repulsed.  Finally Legs latched onto a pass from Veitchy and sent the Farts supporters into levels of relief when we equalised.  However it was short lived when Vic scored again, into the sheds we trudged, 2-1 down.

There was much discussion at half time between glen and Vic about the suitability of their players, as a number had played for their P3 team immediately before our hit off. Glen felt that they were “playing down”, advised the captain accordingly and recorded ton the card that Vic defaulted (as they wouldn’t have had enough players), an action that was to be questioned post game by the judiciary!

Willie had spelled Robbie during the second half, so trapper volunteered to start the second half with the whistle.  The farts seemed to get a second wind, “and a few more PC’s as well” Vietchy scored 3 in what seemed like quick succession, some good field goals, one easy touch on the goal line (should really have been Legs as it was going in but Veitchy claims he finished it off!) and a good flick from a PC. Needle joined in with a cracking shot from near the edge of the circle to score as well.

Vic came back to score 2 more goals, one a high shot at the LH upright that Timbo only managed to just get his stick to and deflect into the top of the net).

The Farts final goal was an awe inspiring effort from Willie who was relishing the space (by this time Vic’s head were down and the players who were playing their second game were at walking pace).  An attack went into the circle, after a skirmish in front of goal the ball came out to willies left side (he was near his post as all wingers should be) , with out a second thought he did a reverse stick shot that even cam would have been proud of, smacking the ball into the roof of the net on the left hand top corner. That was the final nail, trapper tried to get back on to get in on the goals but without him even touching the ball the whistle went 1 minute after he went back on!.

The End result on the night was a 6-4 win to the Farts.

There was some post match judicial inquiry, with Vic claiming that all the players that played Sunday night were actually registered with the R2 team, and had been “playing up” for the P3’s.

Although this correspondent has his suspicions (and voiced them as well) especially as Vic had done this to the Farts in a previous year (the team we played in the semi final had a number of players that we hadn’t played during the normal season but were “officially” registered for our grade) it was suggested and accepted by the administration that the result would stand as we won anyway.

As a famous British general was heard to say after a victorious battle “it was a close run thing”

Goals

3 - Vietchy

1 – legs

1 – Wily
1 - Needle

MVP’s

3 – Vietchy – have to after he scored two goals and poached one of legs

2 – Wicky – all round efforts and good solid defence and attack , also umpired last 5 minutes

1 – Timbo , slide tackle took out a Vic player and tried to drop kick into another , managed tocollect his chest

1 – Glen – umpiring

.5 – Trapper – umpired almost half a game

.5 Robbie – umpired part of 1^st half and volunteered to do so

.25 wily – umpired part of 1^st half

No oranges but vraig has volunteered to do them next sunday