Seven League Debuts for Men's 3rd XI

“Know then thyself, presume not God to scan,
The proper study of mankind is man...
With too much knowledge for the sceptic side,
With too much weakness for the stoic's pride,
He hangs between; in doubt to act or rest,
In doubt to deem himself a god, or beast.” (Alexander Pope)

Privileged, the club with such depth of resources that it can resist the pressures of modern life. Where a missing player becomes not a weakness, but an opportunity. Where volunteers step up and teach their friends, and sometimes themselves, what they're capable of. So it was with JPC 3s. To a man, they worked hard & without complaint for the team, the embodiment of a team being greater than the sum of its parts. Some players learned league hockey was nothing to be scared of; some players learned they could play different roles in a team; some learned to take control; one to hold a stage. In the absence of last season's engine room: Jason Loney, Jon Chapman, Ben Irving, Pete Wilson, Will Schofield among those missing, Rory Restall, was selected at left-half & asked to carry the hopes of the team. He delivered in spectacular fashion, pulling the strings of the 3rd team puppet that constantly asked questions of Redcar & was unfortunate not to earn reward from its efforts.

Redcar began brightly, driving from the midfield through a tentative JPC early on, with one shot just wide straight from the start. But as JPC's backs settled, marking got tighter, tackles can quicker & harder. Bob Clifton, in for his first league game in 3 years, was as imperious as ever. Phil Woodsford acted as a defensive guard in front of the full backs, and as Redcar's attacks were stopped, so one player would inevitably bring the ball forward. Rory had the poise of players twice his age, happily dancing past tackles to find a short pass, then moving for a return, chasing back & making vital tackles when the ball was lost. With Rory bossing the field, JPC pushed forward as a team, hunting in pairs, using the left wing to good effect in this first period. Tom Melbourne & Jack Johnstone combined to good effect to pass & move round the Redcar defence, an excellent solo run from Chris Ferrier sadly snuffed out without reward.

In truth, though, Redcar had the more dangerous attacks, 2 shots wide & a penalty corner, goalkeeper James Pitchford diving down to take 2 more, heart-in-mouth moments aplenty for JPC, and when Ferrier tapped the first goal in it was only the second time JPC had caused Redcar's goalkeeper any alarm. Redcar got the message, and within five minutes had equalised. They built waves of well-supported attacks, starting from the midfield & passing into JPC's 23 & towards goal, but it was JPC dictating the tempo for most of the game.

Redcar's shooting circle was a much busier place in the second half, as a large & young JPC squad kept the pace of the game high. Both teams were tiring, Redcar's back line not getting quite as far forward in possession, JPC's front line staying with them, and the midfield becoming more spread out. Rory was still battling, passing, moving, silently coaxing the team forward, but his options were becoming fewer.

Redcar's forwards were starting to find more space, and looked increasingly threatening on the counter-attack. Clifton was required to hit the turf to make a tackle on a couple of occasions, not that he needs an invitation.

As one such counter was thwarted, the resulting penalty corner led to a penalty stroke, and Redcar were ahead. With a few final rotations, JPC pushed hard for the equaliser, Melbourne making a great run into the D but unable to connect with a cross that took out the 'keeper and flashed across the face of goal. Johnstone had a couple of efforts from close range saved, Oliver James capped a vital performance with a shot narrowly wide.

While Rory was JPC's bright spark, none of the (very welcome) spectators would accuse the rest of the team of being carried by him. The base of Woodsford & James kept the passing going while Rory was off the pitch, Melbourne & Johnstone generating attacks, Smeal looking lively down the right, & while Redcar kept pressing to put the result beyond doubt, Clifton & Humphries kept them at bay.

That a team missing 10 members, who each played at least half of last season, were so close to equalising tells a chapter of the story of the efforts made, and the talents uncovered.

Seven league debuts & two further club debuts give an overview of a group of players unfamiliar with each other, asked to step up, round pegs in square holes, learning new skills, discovering hidden depths, knowing themselves.

JPC III: Pitchford (c); Stables, Clifton, Humphries, Hampton; Smeal,
Woodsford, R Restall; Khosla, C Ferrier, Melbourne. Subs: E Restall,
Basta, O James, Ravenhall, Johnstone. Goal: Ferrier. Man-of-the-match: R
Restall.