Men's 7s A v K Sports

In a season that’s seen numerous highs and lows in a league with highly competitive fixtures, the Sevens stepped out to the swansong of their season with a tricky match away to K-Sports. Historically, there’s no love lost between the two teams and previous games away to these opponents has often demonstrated somewhat partisan umpiring - and this game was no different.

On the back of some solid performances, the Sevens were determined that, win, lose or draw, they wanted to finish with heads held high and ideally to cement a top six finish within the league.

Despite talisman player coach Paul Lardon being sidelined with sickness bug, from the off, the Ops were resolute and forthright in their play, looking to keep things simple and not give away advantage to a team that would be sure to capitalise. Skipper Dan Kennedy marshalled the side, keeping play tight and with Stuart Milkotraya sitting tight in a central defensive role ensured the ball was being moved around well along the wings and the through the field. Although there were decent forays from both sides, there was little to trouble either goal, with stand-in keeper Logan Charman for the Sevens snuffing out anything coming his way.

With no score in the first half, K-Sports, clearly frustrated with the lack of any goals their way, were out of the gates quickly, creating several chances, but the stalwart defence of Stuart Crabstone and Cullum Odjoppus managed to thwart the onslaught. Some excellent play along the wings created some good opportunities for the marauding Sevens with, at one point, some dazzling play from skipper Kennedy for a reverse pass cross just beyond the outstretched stick of Josh Scooter. This was complemented with some excellent wing-work from the younger Sevens with Josh Lowe and Elliott Wilson working tirelessly whilst stalwarts Simon Bakes and Paul Luce looking to move the ball through the field to create opportunities.

Leaning on the bias of the umpiring, K-Sports saw a number of decisions swing their way, including a fall from a striker that would have made a Brazilian footballer proud to earn a short corner. This sort of behaviour perhaps marred what was otherwise a well-worked goal from the home side that some a clever series of passes, saw an un-saveable strike past Charman.

Despite a noticeable step up in pace from the visitors, and with a heroic last-ten minutes appearance by a clearly under-par player-coach Paul Lardon, and equalizer for the Sevens wasn’t forthcoming and the game concluded at 1-0 to K-Sports and the Sevens finishing with a well-earnt sixth place in the league.

Commenting after the game, skipper Kennedy said: ‘This season has shown once again the resolution and determination of our team. To a man, I couldn’t have asked for any more from my lads; all season, from young Josh at 16 to Brian at 83, everyone’s stepped up when asked, in a season with no easy fixtures. Each year we’re getting better and our dogged determination, along with an injection of new young players that will go onto bigger and better things combined means we’re not just a team that enjoys playing together, but tells the rest of league when they play us, there’s a game on their hands.”