MATCH REPORT M2 v Tring 2’s

After a break that felt longer than a journey through hyperspace, the saga resumed on a hockey pitch not too far away. The Wootton Wanderers Rebels welcomed the Sith Lords of the planet Tring for the next chapter in their epic battle.

The Rebels entered the fray without several of their seasoned Jedi Masters, notably Keeper Masters Godfrey and Wilson-Slight. This forced Rebel leader Jedi Master Chadwick to don the fearsome Jabba the Hutt keeper armour for the first time this season. Undeterred, the Wanderers began with A New Hope, controlling large periods of the first half. A sustained assault brought wave after wave of penalty corners, but it seemed the Sith had stationed Darth Vader himself between the posts, as save after save was conjured with a mere wave of the hand. The opening chapter closed goalless, balance in the Force firmly intact.

The second half, however, saw The Empire Strike Back. A short corner was initially denied by Jedi Master Chadwick, but the Sith pounced on the rebound to open the scoring. Moments later, relentless Stormtrooper attacks overwhelmed the Rebels, and a second strike followed. Despite valiant resistance from the Jedi Masters and their Padawans, the Sith struck again, with Boba Fett breaking through one-on-one and calmly slipping the ball home.

The Rebels’ persistence was finally rewarded in the dying seconds. From a short corner, Jedi Lee Twynhom-Jinn sensed the disturbance in the Force, reacted quickest to the rebound, and smashed home a consolation goal to the delight of the faithful.

There is no battle scheduled next week, but hope remains. Attention now turns to a Return of the Jedi in a fortnight’s time, when the Rebels host the high-flying forces of Oxford. May the Force be with them.