Mossel Bay challenges Old Oaks
Conspiracy theories are complex and one often wonders what lengths a town would go to when it comes to top league hockey.
The Mossel Bay men's contingent were exposed to the realities of this theory when they left Mossel Bay on Saturday to compete against a well-oiled Old Oaks Seconds in Knysna at the Oakhill Astroturf.
After the devastating fires exactly a year ago you still feel the effects and among the new homes that have been rebuilt, you see the homes where nobody has returned. Driving to the fields you immediately start feeling the effects of the fire. One is forced to feel calm and relaxed as you drive through the natural forest to the field.
The Mossel Bay men set to the field and competed well. Using their attacking opportunities well while simultaneously defending a very strong attack, Mossel Bay pushed hard in an incredibly busy first half.
The union of the Mossel Bay young and senior players as a team is inspiring. At halftime, Mossel Bay fell prey to the conspiracy theory by looking and allowing themselves to absorb the view of their surroundings: mountains, sprawling lawns, horses grazing and absolute tranquillity.
No team returns to a second half the same after this calming effect.
It has the same effect as sending a SWAT team to a marshmallow and cream party. However, the Mossel Bay men accepted the challenges and put up a great show, scoring an awesome second goal.
The extent of the Mossel Bay men's attack strategy resulted in the opponents pulling in some specialist players to harness the pressure and take full advantage of Mossel Bay when the focus was relaxed.
It was a fantastic challenge, ending in a 6-2 win for Old Oaks in a game where the scoreboard did not justify the commitment on the field.
The man of the match award was shared by youth and experience in the form of young Dylan Hyman and Ken Walmsley, who turned 57 during the week. As we always say: not made in China, but made in Mossel Bay.