Atalanta Braves                                                             The Lovebody Lions

1.Lolly Stanhope-White   -2                                 1.Greg Dudd   -1

2.Gideon Sumption          -1                                2.Jim Pittard   -2

3.Brook Bishop                2                                3.Dominic McKenzie 0

4.Justine Stanhope-White 1                                4.Roddy Stanning      3

Chukka 1

With the weather living up to the forecast, namely heavy showers, chukka one started at a furious pace with Justin Stanhope-White and Brook Bishop hitting long passes up to Lolly Stanhope-White but she was unable to score from any off them due to the good defensive marking of Roddy Stanning and Dominic McKenzie. The pace was fast and it took a while before Justin managed to break through and score after a good run down the ground. In spite of the speed that Roddy and Dominic put on the game they could not get the ball to their forwards Greg Dudd and Jim Pittard sufficiently for them to score. Towards the end of the chukka Justin had a break away and galloped up the ground, having to take a long shot because of the hefty defensive ride off inflicted on him by Dominic, and the ball stopped about 6 feet short, before Gideon Sumption rushed through to score virtually on the bell. Score Atalanta Braves 2 The Lovebody Lions 0

Chukka 2

The Chukka started with a penalty from the centre taken by Brook Bishop, who connected well and the ball reached Lolly in the middle of the defensive pack however, Jim Pittard hit a good clearing backhand, only for it to be met by Justin coming down the line and despite Roddy’s mighty ride off, Justin got the ball through the posts to make the score 3/0 in Atalanta Braves favour. The score stayed the same up to half time but it was noticeable that The Lovebody Lions upped the ante speedwise and Gregg and Jim were trying very hard to convert the passes only to be thwarted by the close marking by Brooke and Justin aided and abetted by Gideon and Lolly. Score Atalanta Braves 3 The Lovebody Lions 0

Chukka 3

Having ended chukka 2 on a whistled foul, chukka 3 started with a spot penalty inside the 30 yard line against the Braves. Taken by Roddy, no mishits and he scored The Lions first goal of the match making the score 3/1. From the centre, after the Roddy goal, the Braves shot away but were defended against vigorously and successfully by all members of the Lions and thus the game remained until 3 minutes form the end of the chukka the Lions received a close penalty which was tapped at by  Roddy and it slowed down so much that it almost didn’t make the line, just dribbling over. Score Atalanta Braves 3 The Lovebody Lions 2.

Chukka 4

Out of the line-up Roddy passed the ball up to Jim who took two cracking shots to take the ball right up to the Braves goal area but he was ridden off by Lolly who managed to get a good backhander in, only to have it picked up by Roddy who unleashed a beautiful under the neck shot to put the ball between the posts levelling the score at 3 goals a piece. From the centre the captains got their respective fully motivated and both sets of forwards, Lolly and Gideon for the Braves and Greg and Jim for the Lions worked hard to break the levelled scores. A 60 yarder was awarded to the Lions and Roddy converted it with a mighty hit over the top of all the defenders making the score 4 to 3 and putting the Lions in the lead for the first time.With both teams trying really hard mistakes were made and the Braves were given a 60 yarder which Brook made sure it went through the posts thus levelling the score again at 4 each. Another spot penalty for the Braves was converted and they moved back into the lead 5/4 but the Lions were not having it and after a big tussle trying to gain the ball, Roddy had a good run up the ground, his way being cleared by his forwards Greg and Jim, to receive a massive ride off from Justin but Roddy managed to take the ball on the nearside and pop it in the goal, once again levelling the sores at 4 goals.

From another penalty taken by Brook the Braves moved back into the lead at 5/4 only to have Roddy have a good run , battling all the way with Lolly, but finally hitting a glorious nearside back hander arrow like between the posts, levelling the scores again, at 5. Both teams pulled all the stops out and with the scores level on the final bell the 30 second period started and Justin battled and pushed and shoved his way through the strong defence of the Lions and managed to get the winning goal and thus taking the Chairmans Cup. Score Atalanta Braves 6 The Lovebody Lions 5.

So the Chairman won the Chairmans Cup!!