All the thrill of competitive games but with extra passion for delighted St Neots

St Neots Hockey Club’s first post-lockdown matches may have been against each other but try telling that to the delighted players as the thrill of competition returned.

Previously intra-club friendlies were often little more than a chance to introduce new players or a new structure to a team.

But since the absence of any hockey for months, these carried a little passion than in the past.

The men got things going with a mix of first and second-team players battled it out in a testy affair. Former ones keeper Ben Seaber continues to enjoy his time in the outfield as he notched a hat-trick while father and son Iain and Luca Moor each scored for the bibs as the teams finished 3-3.

Iain Moor then took on umpiring duties in a similar game for the ladies which went back and forth before ending in a 6-3 win for the firsts.

Kira Herbert, Olivia Croner and skipper Paula Bingham were on target for the seconds while for the firsts, there was a hat-trick from their captain Caz Osborne and one each for Sue Glover, Millie Payne and Eleanor Pybus.

Academy coach and men’s player Jonathan Perceval said: "It was great to be playing again and have that feeling of a well-deserved rest after putting in a hard 70 minutes’ effort.”