Babe Ruth said "you just can't beat the person who won't give up" and on Saturday 17th Sept, Thirsk's U14 boys played a match against a very strong Leeds U15/14s team that perfectly epitomised this famous quote.

The match was divided into 3x20 mins segments to reflect the pre-season friendly nature and also to allow for regular water breaks in the unseasonably high temperature. The Leeds lads started very strong and it was fair to say that Thirsk were clearly over-awed at first, to the point where they showed Leeds too much respect and allowed Leeds to dominate the game. Forgetting the basics, Thirsk contributed to their own defence regularly being put under extreme pressure and being tested to the limit. Conceding a number of penalty corners, it is a credit to the defence of JackB, James and WillW along with goalie Dan that Thirsk didn't concede an early goal or two. Thirsk's confidence was knocked early on when a brave defensive sprint from the goal-line by captain James on one particular penalty corner, saw him take a severe blow to the front of his foot, and which resulted in him having to come off for quite some time for medical treatment, but not before he got the ball safely into midfield. An immediate substitution being required, while dealing with the next Leeds onslaught, saw Henry going into defence and vice-captain Guy who had been a sub up to this point, going on to shore up Thirsk's structure, and to provide a cool head to calm things down for Thirsk; Guy's mission was to ensure the team could just hang on until the break and provide support to Sam, JacobS, Ben and Arthur who were chasing every ball down to protect the defence.
The first third's team talk and water break allowed for a discussion on having a little bit of collective self-belief and in applying some basic principles to the game play, to make it easier for ourselves by not giving away possession so easily.

The second third of the game saw James able to return to the pitch and Guy volunteer to play for Leeds as they needed one extra player to be able to rotate their players more. From Thirsk's side there was a noticeable improvement in ball possession time, and other examples of Thirsk players giving it all, such as Henry, Connor and JackD putting their bodies on the line to make that crucial tackle or to stretch for the ball to pursue a goal scoring opportunity. Sam, JacobS, Ben and Arthur battled hard in midfield to improve the ball retention rate, and successfully got the ball to the forwards more and more, so much so, that we had some very good attacking spells which had the spectators wondering when a Thirsk goal would come. JacobI had an excellent run down the wing, supported by Arthur and JacobS, but Leeds re-grouped to force the ball just wide of JackD's waiting stick. One of Angus's many shots at goal, was fouled which resulted in a penalty flick to Leeds. With Guy playing the second third for Leeds, and thus not able to take the flick for Thirsk, there was a clear reluctance by the Thirsk team for someone else to take the flick; perhaps the height of the Leeds goalie was a factor as he was very tall. Then young Connor stepped forward but alas, was not able to find the back of the net. JackB now upfront, along with Angus, Connor, JacobI and JackD, (each taking turns as forwards after a brief rotational, sub-off period), provided some good breaks down the wings which stretched the Leeds defence.

Second third's team break saw everyone clearly exhausted, and some players volunteering to start this period subbed off, but this Thirsk team hadn't conceded a goal and reflecting on the second period just played, they realised that using the width, good movement off ball to provide good passing options, was beginning to make a difference to Thirsk. All to play for in the last third but they had to believe that Leeds were a team they could beat.

Angus volunteered to play for Leeds the last third, so Guy was back for Thirsk this time as left-wing. This was Thirsk's best period of the three, despite boys with very heavy legs. There was growing nervousness that the boys may concede a goal from a Leeds break, and the match was becoming increasingly tense. Eventually, after some solid play from the Thirsk defence, a perfect pass from Will, through to the midfield then to the forwards, and a cross of the ball from the right wing, plus a scramble within the Leeds' D, saw Guy slam the ball into the back of the Leeds goal. The spectators' cheers were the loudest these boys have heard in their U14 hockey playing careers and now the realisation there was just 10 minutes left, to protect their precious and hard-won lead. Leeds pressed on and on and every Thirsk player went up yet another gear to ensure they would not find the back of Thirsk's net. When the umpire's whistle blew to signal the end of the match, the sense of achievement on the faces of these exhausted boys was extremely noticeable.

Players'player: Dan

Manager's Player: Connor

Thanks to David for umpiring and to the spectators, who grew in number and cheered these boys on to victory,