One a bright sunny day the Over 40s from Reading Hockey Club went to the annual South Masters Tournament held in Woking this year. After a scenic detour (or 3) left a group of ladies late, we started off having to de-stress a normally punctual Nicky, our GK, before we started the first game against Staines (dressed in pink, due to colour clash), which with good form and a sneaky goal from Trina and an “All is forgiven” from Nicky led to our first victory of the day.

Continuing this good form, Reading went on to win the second game against Oxford Eagles 1-0 with Blanche poaching the goal from Rachel’s shot from a short corner. The next game against Hailsham was slightly different, they were a more organised side and with Reading still shocked to have won 2 games on the trot we were left slightly dazed by a cracking goal from Hailsham in the last few minutes of the game. This didn’t stop Reading from going through as top of the league to the semi final against Woking. Unfortunately, two of our super quick defenders managed to break the line early, resulting in the long walk to the halfway line and the naughty chair. This allowed Woking to score, Reading tried hard to come back but couldn’t get the finishing touch for the goal.

Play off for third and fourth place was against Wycombe. With play going from end to end it and a couple of naughty chair incidents from Reading, Wycombe still couldn’t beat a 9 man Reading side and the game ended up as a 0-0 draw. Panic set in to the over 40s as they wondered how, in 8 seconds, they would get from the 23 yard line to D in order to score, however relief set in as penalty flicks were to be taken instead. With some cracking saves from GK Nicky and flicks from Charlie, Rachel and Di going in, Reading won 3-1 resulting in third place overall.

All in all a great fun day of hockey, thank you to all those that played.