Southampton Tridents v Bath 2nds
Location: Southampton
Comp: West Div 2

 Final Score: Southampton Tridents 1:11 Bath 2nds 

Once again at the start of the week the 2nds team looked weak on paper and low on numbers with the first team captain selecting some of the better players for experience at the higher level. But with the 1^st team game being called off due to the bad weather this meant the 2nds were able to travel with a full complement of 17 players.

Arriving about an hour and forty minutes before face off, an odd occurrence for Bath, this gave the visiting outfit plenty of time to work out the Christmas break rust, even setting out the goals for the hosts who weren’t on the field until 30 minutes before face off.

The lengthy warm up showed from the off as Bath went straight into the attack scoring 4 quick goals through Lloyd Butler and Sam King (2 a piece). Bath moved the ball well in the attack, making runs and creating space, the good start was only spoiled by a game ending injury to Mike Carey, just back from college in the US falling awkwardly from a loose ball push. Newly signed Phil Walker out of York University, arrived slightly late but after a quick warm up was came on to add some more physicality and experience to the defence. He got straight into the action planting a Southampton player on the floor, strong, throughout the game he was loud and cleared the danger effectively; it won’t be long before he moves up to the firsts. The only negative captain Paddy Peacock could bring out after the 1^st quarter whistle was a small lapse in concentration from Bath’s defence leading to Southampton’s only goal at the end of the 1^st quarter. Southampton gained possession, Baths midfield were slow to track back and the defence slid way to early leaving a man open on the crease to fire in from close range.

After a few words from some of the older heads in the team Bath went back out with Paddy Peacock and Sam King dominating on face off, keeping possession inside the Southampton half who to be fair never really got going in this game. And the few times Southampton did create chances Mark Lane once again was on hand to stop them. Lane claims a record (for him) with 5 runs up-field with 1 ending in a shot just over the bar. The 2^nd quarter ended 2-0 to Bath with goals from Lloyd Butler and Matt King.

In the 3^rd quarter Bath stepped it up again, and after a couple of early goals from Paddy Peacock and Dan Weil Bath the visitors were able to hand more game time to their younger players Joe Brickell, Sam Smith and Joe Treverrow who was making his first appearance for Bath 2nds and did not look out of place, keen to get on and involved, making some good runs in attack and tracking back to play defence. Credit must go to Joe Brickell after taking a very hard hit at the end of the 3^rd quarter, Joe showed all the signs of concussion, despite the captain’s advice he insisted on returning to the game, but not till after he’d taken some water on board and sat out the first 5-10minutes of the 4^th quarter, he seemed to work doubly hard chasing loose balls and making some nice cuts, if he continues like that it will only be a matter of time till the goals start to flow. Bath slowed the intensity in the 4^th quarter finishing with 2 goals from Butler and Peacock.

You can certainly see how well the bath players have come on from the last time these sides met (on that occasion ending in a close affair at 11-7 in Baths favour). Bath’s defence of Paul Bown, Phil Walker and Joey Nicholson were loud and really worked together with Rhys Topping and Phil Jervis running their socks off in an unfamiliar LSM role (Phil Walker claiming his fitness was too “gash” for LSM).

This win now keeps Bath up with the contenders for promotion to West 1. The big guns of the division, Exeter and Bristol will be the benchmark this young team must judge themselves against they are to push for that top spot.

Quotes of the day:
Mark Lane discussing university “Do you have to study lacrosse to play it at University?”

Colin Carey to Paddy Peacock after Paddy went down with cramp “You Mike Carey wannabe!”

Southampton player coming off the field and collapsing on the floor after being perfectly poke checked by Joey Nicholson in the crown jewels “How come you can stop the clock and lay on the ground when you have cramp but when you get smacked in the b****** you have to run off the field?!”

Hit of the Day
Matt King sprinting off for an LSM after a poor Bath shot. Southampton goalie decides to throw the ball to the midfielder standing by the bench lining up a perfect hit for Matt to run straight through him..... NICE!

Girls Blouse of the Day
Of course Mike Carey. Going down in agony in the first 10 minutes of the game, pounding the ground complaining he can’t move his foot. After a hospital visit and an x-ray it’s only a sprain…


Quarter Scores:
1^st quarter Southampton Tridents 1: 4 Bath
2^nd quarter Southampton Tridents 0:2 Bath
3^rd quarter Southampton Tridents 0:3 Bath
4^th quarter Southampton Tridents 0:2 Bath
Final Score
Southampton Tridents 1:11 Bath

Scorers (Assists)
Lloyd Butler 4
Sam King 2 (2)
Paddy Peacock 2 (1)
Dan Weil 2
Matt King 1 (1)