Chinese Whispers! You don't always have to be there.

Eastern Suburbs 3   Pukekohe 0  (Half-time: Don't Know!!)

Team: Jamie Clarke, Chris Rowe, Andy Bell, Karl Straker, Matt Green, Chris Mahoney, Clive Mendham, Chris Britnall, Colin Case,Graham Spinks, Adam Moorhouse.  Sub: Mike Thomas                                         

I originally intended, for a laugh, to write a lengthy report on this match, just to see if anyone could spot that I wasn’t actually there. I was otherwise engaged in the dugout for the 1^st team. However, being a fine, upstanding citizen I decided that I couldn’t cheat the audience by doing that, so I’ve cobbled this together from the various tales I’ve heard about Saturday’s game.

What I do know is that we made the trek to Eastern Suburbs with at least 4 or 5 players missing who would have been expected to feature in our starting line-up. This meant that the call went out to Andy Bell, Chris Britnall, Mike Thomas and young Colin Case to make a step-up and, to their enormous credit, they all performed admirably. Again, thanks to Paul, Marty and Dave for hopping aboard the selection merry-go-round and helping us to put a team out. Much appreciated.

As I wasn’t there, you’ll be glad you won’t have to suffer the usual "sunny….blah….. conditions….blah….pitch…blah…" rubbish that I usually provide, so it’s not all bad!

After a barnstorming performance at training on Thursday, Chris Rowe was telling anybody within earshot that he was going to score on Saturday. He was right. With only a couple of minutes on the clock, Chris opened the scoring......for Eastern Suburbs. I can’t really comment on the own-goal, but I’m sure Chris will maintain that it was a quality finish.

The second came from the penalty spot, after Chris Britnall had put his arm up to prevent his nose being broken by a direct free-kick which was hurtling towards his face. I can’t comment on the 3^rd goal. No-one really said anything about it, so it couldn't have been that good!

Anyway, a 3 – 0 loss was disappointing but, from what I hear, our performance deserved a lot better.

Hopefully, we can now look forward to next week’s game at Fortress Bledisloe, where we take on a Bay Olympic side which lost their first game of the season on Saturday. They should provide us with some stern opposition, but I’m confident that our lads can get the right result.

Man Of the Match: Clive Mendham. Had a great game in the centre of midfield.