An IMPERIous victory (19/02)

With the rest of the club none the wiser, Southampton’s biggest boys got on the road for their National Cup Quarter Final challenge against Imperial. Spirits were high and nerves jangling at the prospect of a rematch against the team that had beat us narrowly in the autumn. We arrived precisely on time (don’t know what Wilkes was worried about) and, once Mr Ellis had informed us that he was in fact friends everyone who worked at the Haberdasher’s School for Boys, made our way through to the pool.

The first quarter began and to precisely no-one’s surprise, Jacob opened the scoring. To everyone’s surprise however, it took him almost 45 seconds (slacking) and came from the pit (rogue). This early success was followed up by a lovely effort from Jack and Alex taking a rather yappy Imperial Pit D to school with a lovely turn and fake until the keeper had sunk far below the surface. Imperial continued to run their tactic (yes just the one) with highballs (hospital pass?) floating towards their best player, and Jack, Howard and Finn continued to bat them away until Mr Teng decided to get out the pool on the wrong side (rookie mistake) and gave them a penalty to get off the mark. They obliged. A quickfire double from Jacob took us to the quarter 5-1 up.

The second quarter started with a goal for the staaaaaaags….3 guesses as to who scored it. Keen not to be outdone, Dalton then scored a couple of goals with unstoppable power (we’ve missed you pookie) before Ammon got into the action with a well taken goal from Pit A. One more goal from imperial made it 9-2 at halftime (sorry Howard, the score was 0-0 at halftime!!).

With the second half underway and the trials of a double deep pool starting to show, Imperials hope’s (much like a couple of their players) began to sink. The stags took full advantage, just as discussed pre match the ball went from keeper to post, post to wing, wing to middle and Finn finished off 2 identical goals in quick succession (is Teng an oracle?). Thus began a rather productive quarter for the boys, goals from Alex, Howard, and Dalton all followed before Jacob, 1on1 with the keeper, produced an uncharacteristic effort straight at the goalie. Not to worry though, Dan cleaned up slotting his second of the match.

Going into the final quarter, leading by 15 goals to 4, Jacob again popped up with a goal to set the boys on their way. 2 quick goals from Imperial suggested an age-old story of the stags fading it in the final quarter…. But not today! An exhibition followed, 2 beautiful Pit A goals from Ammon, fed by Captain Teng, a man up goal from Finn and then to top it all, a penalty……up steps Teng to send the keeper the wrong way! An unconventional but effective goal from Ed (if it’s in its in right) preceded a brief time out and a textbook move to set Alex up for his second and the final goal of the match.

A quick game of murderball to celebrate the win before Alex channelled his inner Canadian, subbing out the regular McWin for a Tim Hortons…..an inspired suggestion as it turned out.

Written by Finn Thomas

Most Valuable Player: SUPERB team performance all round, special mention for a vintage Dan Ammon Pit A performance and 4 goals to go with.

Dick of the Day: Teng for climbing out the pool on a major, silly silly.

Goals/Majors:

Sam Ellis 0/0

Fernando Alvarez 0/1

Jacob Graham 5/0

Finn Thomas 3/0

Daniel Ammon 4/0

Sam Dalton 3/1

Ed Wilkes 1/1

Jack James 1/0