Cirencester 3 Ross Badgers 5

ON Saturday morning Ross Junior U16 Mixed Hockey Team travelled away to Cirencester for their latest fixture and, despite going behind twice, still managed to take the spoils and remain undefeated for the season to date.

As with the previous week, the weather gods were certainly not smiling, with squally wind and driving rain affecting the entire match.

Matches are often decided by small margins, and so it was here. In contrast to the Ross defence, Cirencester conceded at vital moments when they were under pressure, allowing the Oubridge-Brock twins Freddie and Archie to pop up from midfield to score all five goals. That is not to say the Ross defence didn’t creak at times, but in contrast it mostly held out during their all too brief moments of heavy pressure.

Despite having a weakened team, Ross perhaps have never played better either individually or as a unit. Upfront Ben Topping, Freddie Talbot and Cerys Williams caused the Cirencester defence all sorts of problems, both in possession and when pressurising. In midfield Elysia Williams-Tettey, Laura Benjamin, Freddie Oubridge-Brock and Archie Oubridge-Brock came to dominate what appeared at first to be larger and more skilful opponents. Last week’s ‘player of the match’ Luke Watts was capably supported by Amie Jenkins and Amelia Adamson in defence.

Coach Pete Jenkins decided that the player of the match award should go jointly to Archie and Freddie Oubridge-Brock for stepping up so admirably when called.

Next week Ross are at home against Stroud, with an 11am start at Monmouth School Sports Club. Before then, training continues at Monmouth Leisure Centre on Monday evenings - commencing at 7pm. Anybody interested in playing is welcome to attend, whatever ability.