East Grinstead Charity Championships

07/08-Jun-03

The summer was apparently coming early and the team set off to some random backwater - East Grinstead - to pit their skills against the whoever turned up to the challenge. The format of the competition had everyone slightly worried. The matches were 25mins. EACH WAY!!!! This meant there was nearly 7 hours of hockey to be played over the weekend. Luckily Purley Walcountians had pulled out or it would have been nearly 8 hours. Expectations were high, the sun was out and the beer was flowing... so who cared about the hockey!

The EG's set-up was enough to make any hockey team jealous. a modern but picturesque clubhouse split by a nice sand based astro and a brilliant newly laid water-based astro. The food was excellent and the Purple's nasties just kept on flowing in the world's largest jugs. Everyone was happy. half the team camping and the posh half staying in the local Hotel. Even better, with Purley dropping out all but one of the matches were played on the water-based. See below for the weekend's results...

Saturday

Sunday As usual the team tailed off slightly on the Sunday and the hopes of a trophy tailed off into 3rd place. Still it's a better result than last year and fun was had along the way. Sad to say that the home team - who won for the second year running - were appalling hosts especially if you gave them a competitive game. A very skilful team with a piss-poor attitude detracted from what was a very enjoyable tournament. As to next year and the possibility of a return. anything's possible these days - even a trophy!

Highlights & lowlights included. Jake's goals, they all counted but they were awful. Lee's stunning saves. EJ's random dribbling. Adian's Sunday immobility. Charley's slight nicotine addiction. Imma's virgin snakebite. Jon's diving tackles. Lucy's rousing half-time strategy sessions. Wilshire's shocking challenges. Marie's unused airbed. Pully's disallowed short-corners. MJ being sent off in a charity match and Amy & Katy's timely arrival!

Team: Lee Tearle (GK), MJ, Aidan Brock, Mark Pulford, Jon Craven, Jake Downing, Simon Wilshire, Lucy Partington, Marie Smith, EJ, Charley Williams, Imma Lopez, Amy Partington & Katy.

Scorers: Jake (4), Imma (2), Pully (2), EJ (2), Charley, Marie & MJ

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