When an u18 boy describes a player as sick you might think he isn’t that good, so when the whole of the Canterbury side were described that way in the warm up I knew we were on to a winner. Sadly the four that were on their death bed were England players and even those with a slight wheeze were pretty useful!!

A late dropout took our first team count down, a long trip with an early start, entertaining( we await the speeding ticket), and the three cyclists from the night before were truly sick! The lack of umpire was probably our biggest disadvantage with axe murdering taken to a new level but Lewes with their badge sewn close to their chest came out the cycle blocks and after early exchanges Rob Cope back from injury and looking like he had never been away opened the scoring and donned the yellow shirt.

Suddenly the lycra burns and the 10th pint at the Swan didn’t seem so much of a problem! It was only with a few minutes to go in the first half when we got caught under the posts that the equaliser arrived and honours felt even. Sadly the new player wandering on to the pitch at half time wasn’t noticed, lack of team sheets no concern and whether kippers are found on the Medway or not, we were done like one.

Sam George part of our plans two years ago but ‘he’s not a member’, metamorphosed from a crow/hurst/twells player into a Canterbury one, dribbled past us all from the half way line, after we had again been caught under the posts for 3-1 and then the snuck on England player took over and it all felt a bit East Grinstead who incidentally have pulled out without enough u18 players now that Worthing are stinging! Some good performances with George Axton a revelation for the second week running in the more defensive role, James Heaton and county cricketer George Garton making fine tackles and the one real cyclist Henry Parnell making his presence felt!

As we all know it only takes 10 minutes of carnage in a hockey match to make you look rather ill (not sick!) and so a good game with the inclusion of a sharpened whistle was spoiled. But to Lewes’s credit they dusted themselves down got back on the saddle and on their bike and missed countless chances while Canterbury missed none which in Wycherley speak means we played very well without much luck and some battered sticks!

So 5-1 in the end on brilliant facilities plus a first eleven match to watch including their gang of four( one with highwayman mask) .It was a great day coming a deserved second but pride intact and health a little better than theirs!

This Sunday at Southdown 3oc v Bromley and Beckenham all welcome, if on two wheels careful on Keere Street!