England Great Grand Masters B - Match Reports
Day 1
England Great Grand Masters B 1 Netherlands Great Grand Masters 0
Both teams took the pitch at 10am. England started by pressing hard but Netherlands came back strongly. John Widgery and Gilbert Grice were stalwart in the England defence and Tim Pollard’s strong kicking kept the well clear of his goal. The second half began with more pressure by England with George Hazell and Phil Realff racing forward on the right. Tony Perryman took over the midfield and Mike Feasey and Guy Mayers came strongly forward on the left producing several goal chances, one of which was eventually converted. An accurate pass from George Hazell found Peter Ashton who finished emphatically. The move was initially started by John Gordon and Guy Jillings ably assisted by the hardworking Brian Woolcott and David Wilkinson. Netherlands came back at England for the final ten minutes but a stout (resolute) defence held firm.
David Wilkinson
Day 2
England Great Grand Masters B 0 Australia Great Grand Masters 1
Team names are rather confusing, contrary to the official programme titleas above it was in fact the LX Over 65 team who took to the unwatered astro at 8.00 on Friday 3rd September to play the strong Australian Over 65 squad. It was five minutes before LX made any significant move into the Aussie half and shortly afterwards John Widgery at centre half had to make an inspired interception to terminate a dangerous Oz attack. Against continuous pressure all the defence played; Gilbert Grace, Guy Mayers, Tony Perryman, George Hazell and outstandingly John Widgery combined to keep the Aussies at bay. Added to which Tim Pollard was inspiring in goal. However with no great imput from the forwards the score was still 0-0 at halftime. The second half was more balanced and flurries of activity brought LX some opportunities but the Oz defence proved robust and after a short corner award of dubious equity they took the lead on 51 minutes. After that Peter Ashton was almost there for an equaliser and several sallies by inspirational skipper David Wilkinson and inside left Mike Feasey also came to nought. 1-0 to the Australians was a fair result against a stronger side. Our thanks to Roger Bradley, our physiotherapist and trainer, for the mercifully gentle warm down exercises. The Australians (not necessarily reliable sources of critique) awarded Man of the Match presentation jerseys to inside right Phil Realff as ‘the most disruptive player’ and to Guy Mayers at left half for ‘bewildering directional play while impersonating Peter O’Toole’s Lawrence of Arabia’.
Guy Jillings
Day 5
England Great Grand Masters B 0 Alliance Great Grand Masters 1
Another boring 8am start for the LX Great Grand Masters. At least this meant that the game against the Alliance was played in ideal conditions – the pitch watered and the sun barely up. You can tell that I am reluctant to get to the match itself. It started well with the halves – Guy Mayers, Tony Perryman and Phil Realff – controlling the midfield and the ball going into the circle regularly. This pressure seemed certain to lead to a goal and it did, but at the wrong end. For almost the only time in the entire game the ball got through to the Alliance striker who shot fiercely, giving Tim Pollard no chance. The rest of the game needs little reporting. John Widgery and Gilbert Grace were solid at the back and the forwards – Brian Woolcott, Mike Feasey, Peter Ashton, Guy Jillings, John Gordon and substitute David Wilkinson – tried desperately to make the continuous pressure count, but to no avail. The LX disease – shortcorneritis - affected almost 20 opportunities, and even the late introduction of George Hazell could not produce an equaliser.
Phil Realff
