Disappointing late call-offs

Expected Toulouse 9 Pique Blinders 6

THERE was a late start to the league proceedings because of several disappointing call offs.

However, the game between two of the league newcomers more than made up for the lack of games beforehand.

In a match where every player performed excellently, it was Toulouse who drew first blood after a cool finish by Joel Edwards who put the ball into the roof of the net after being put through on goal.

The youngsters of Pique Blinders fought back through an excellent Cammy Hill solo goal after a mazy run through the Toulouse defence. Between Hill’s ability to control the game from the middle of the hall and his teammate Keir MacLean’s ruthless finishing, the lead changed throughout a high quality first half and finished 3-3.

In the second half, the score was tied at 5-5 before a superb acrobatic finish from man of the match Shaun McIver put Expected Toulouse back in front. It was McIver again who scored another from distance to open the largest lead of the match.

A penalty opportunity presented a chance for Expected Toulouse to finish the match off, after a slack passback from Cammy Hill forced goalkeeper Tommy Hondros to come out from his area.

Robbie Johnstone hit the post with the penalty.

Encouraged by the miss, Pique Blinders scored and looked like they might just find a way to salvage something from the match, but McIver again struck to kill the game off and finish the match 9-6.

It was a superb game that both teams could have won.

Both teams were committed and fought hard, but at no point did the referee have to step in.

Glensanda 8 Atlantis Leisure 2

After another late call off from AC Milama, Atlantis Leisure stepped in to play the undefeated champions with only a few hours to get organised.

This meant AC Milama avoided forfeiting the game. It was Glensanda, though, who once again strolled to victory leaving Atlantis Leisure wondering how they’re going to close the gap between the two sides.

Atlantis Leisure will rue the mistakes at the back that allowed several of the Glensanda goals to be scored. With the stand-in referee Kevin Roy unable to play this season, it left Atlantis exposed several times, and when you come against players like Jamie Graham and Craig MacEwen, who will again be one of the favourites for the player of the season award, you are going to get punished.

Due to having to put a team together at late notice, it was Ben Pollock who stepped in to save the day for Atlantis, who would have been without a goalkeeper.

Ben still hasn’t fully recovered from a broken rib, but take nothing away from Glensanda, who put together some superb attacking moves.

It wouldn’t have made a difference if there were two goalkeepers in goals for Atlantis at times.

Glensanda were able to field almost a full team, with stand in goalkeeper James Scott proving to be in imperious form, earning himself man of the match.

You could have named any of the Glensanda players as man of the match, they were so efficient, seeing themselves 3-0 up at half time thanks to tidy finishes, one from Jonny Will who was finding himself marked by the much younger Gavin Forgrieve who, despite some great effort, just couldn’t match the strength of Will.

With the score at 8-1, Pollock had to retire from the game, unable to play on through his rib injury. Kevin Keen drew the short straw, playing out the final seven minutes in goals instead of Pollock.

Glensanda were good for their lead by this point and despite a goal back from debutant Peter MacMillan and a fine save from Keen to deny Craig MacEwen, it was the champions who emerged deservedly victorious.

With an extremely premiership this season like they are the team once again. tough it looks to beat