The time had come for the girls to face Bristol again, this time at their own pool. Sadly even the initial excitement of this being the girls first experience of a minibus, the 8pm start time after a long 3hr journey was not filling the girls with good vibes. Non the less! The girls boarded their bus with their dinner as President Finn Thomas showed us his new minibus drivers license – very impressive by the way, Mr Thomas managed to parallel park first try, credit where credit is due.

Lots of spectators had made their way to Bristol’s pool to support our girls,  but not even the cheers could hid the slightly less than overwhelming pool we found with some very slippy meter markers, yes this is speaking from a slightly less than graceful entrance to the pool at the start.

After out synchronized dive into the pool, the quarter began with a speedy Bristol winning the ball and in the first 30s reminding us why they are top of the table (but only due to a silly fresher getting excluded). However the girls went on to show their fabulous development since playing Bristol at the start of the year as a 5minute period went on with neither team scoring a goal. Apparently board of a blank match sheet Miss Lancaster got herself excluded and Bristol again made the most of their man up. The quarter ended after our fabulous goalie saved a penalty, leaving the score 2-0.

Words of affirmation from the captain (I was very proud) and the girls set off for the second quarter, once again conceding the ball to a swift Bristol. Bristol apparently had a point to prove at this point as sadly the scoreline didn’t stay quite as close as the first quarter. Two goals were scored by Bristol followed by another Southampton exclusion (they take after their captain 😊) followed by 3 more goals for Bristol before the quatre saw 4minutes. Miss Smith now with a vengeance decided that she was going to replicate our last Bristol match and scored an absolute star of a goal, denying Bristol a clean sheet. Bristol then went on to score 6 more goals before earning themselves not one but two exclusions, leaving the girls double man up. You’d think this would then be a guaranteed goal but no no Miss Ratledge made a diabolical shot right at the goalie, ending the quarter 13-1.

 Some tactical talk form coach Finn and the second half was off, this quarter moved a little slower than the last as the girls adapted to Bristol’s plays, although the home team still managed to score 5 goals but Neve did not make their life easy and covered the tired soton girls, saving several one-on-one shots. Exhaustion showed as Miss Ratledge had apparently let all the water she’d inhaled when being drowned go straight to her head as she made a miracle shot from past half way and them promptly jumped out the pool to cough up half her lung (would not recommend).

The final quarter then set off and it was clear that Bristol were trying to get the whole team on the score sheet as several more goals were tallied and naturally a few more exclusions for Southampton. The match then ended 29-2 to Bristol, a slightly better score than last time and a match well played.

The girls then boarded the bus back for the sleepy 3hr drive home.

Written by Captain Lottie!

Most Valuable Player: Imogen Lancaster for playing damn nearly the whole match despite a slightly wonky shoulder 😉

Dick of the day: Lottie Ratledge for being a drama queen and coughing up half the pool as well as not listening to her own coaching of how to do a man up (do as I say not as I do xx)

Goals/Majors:

Neve Rowland 0/0

Jess Firth 0/1

Rain Chatterjee 0/0

Katie Smith 1/2

Rosie Ramshaw 0/0

Isobel Neighbour 0/1

Imogen Lancaster 0/1

Georgia Skelton 0/0

Rosie Cuming 0/0

Lottie Ratledge 1/0

Iris Bugnar 0/1