Maths with Robbie - by Hoppy

Red Lions 2 – Purley 1.

This week, with Robin taking coals to Newcastle and Conrad away in the Bristols, it was Robbie’s turn to gather everybody in a circle, this time before the game. This allowed Robbie to count the number of Lions players up to 14 (with one absent in the car park) and to explain that whilst we need to provide an extra umpire in addition to Peter, the good news was that with 2 Lions blowing a quarter and 1 a half, we would only need one sub on the bench. With most Lions appearing to nod but actually shaking in the freezing cold, Colin spotted the flaw in the management accounts and pointed out that we would still have 2 subs on the bench. And so, the game started with 3 subs on the bench and 10 on the pitch….

Purley no doubt felt pretty confident at the beginning of the game fielding a strong and more youthful side. They were no doubt surprised as The Lions then played their best game for many years, attacked from the start and defended strongly, making for an evenly matched game.
Passing out from the backs, to midfield and then up to the wings and attack saw several opportunities in front of goal and short corners.

Rich D cemented another fine banger from a short corner to make it 1 – nil and then a short while later nearly another, stunning the goal post.

Purley never gave up and John Lodge again was there to plug the rare gaps in defence, although Purley pulled it back to 1 all.

A Lions short corner halfway through the second half saw a slip out wide, a lifted ball across the face of the goal and Charlie crashing it in to the back of the net for a magnificent goal, 2 - 1.

Purley then went on to win a number of short corners but failed to convert.
End result The Red Lions with a fine 2-1 win having played a great game.

Roger Clement
The Lions then learnt the next day that Roger Clement had passed away overnight. Roger was a founding member and intrinsic in the establishment of Sunbury HC in 1952 – and then the very necessary merger with Hawks around 2014. He served the club in many, many roles for many years, usually with trademark cigar! When I joined Sunbury circa 1991, he was running The Red Lions as a Sunday side and welcomed all comers. He was great always fun, a true wit and despite being ill recently kept his good humour, as demonstrated through his frequent emails to the team. Quite simply, without Roger it is unlikely that many of us would have met or be playing today. We and the Club have so much to thank him for. Our deepest condolences to Roger’s family. A true Clubman.

Hoppy