4 wins in a row, a new benchmark for the 7s, and a new challenge against a robust and largely adult side (some of whom had been Hertford with their 2s earlier in the day).

We also struggled to get 11 for a late start, so big thank you to Matt Earle and Mike Scott for doubling up for us. We also welcomed Anthony Aylwin back for his first game for us since February.

We raced into a three goal lead in the first 15 minutes, Harry Nunn opening the scoring and Alex quickly adding 2 more before S&S worked out what had hit them. Maybe it was a bit too easy, we lost our passing game and lost a lot of possession running into tackles from what was now a massed S&S defence. S&S, playing a long ball game down the middle, outpaced our backs to pull one back, though Alex completed his hat trick just before half time (that's three in a row - has anyone else ever done that for Hertford in senior hockey?) to restore a three goal cushion.

After a blunt half time talk from Matt we largely went back to a proper passing game, and looked a lot better. There was plenty of space, Matt and Greyson moved the ball smoothly through midfield and there good wide options, Theo and Santi combining particularly well up the left. We rediscovered passing in the final 20 metres, and though we only scored two more, the creativity and discipline was much more satisfying.

Pick of the goals was Michael Artis's first career goal (in his 5th game) as Alex drifted wide to the right and struck a pinpoint cross across the D where Michael arrived to thump it past the keeper on a tight angle. Alex added his 4th and our 6th. In the meantime S&S continued to test us on the break and has some spells of sustained pressure in the final quarter and deserved a couple of goals, Laurens having his busiest spell for a long while and succession of tidy saves.

Back to Southgate next week to see if we can avenge our only defeat so far.