On Sunday 20 March, with Dumfries Men’s 1s playing Clydesdale 4s at Dumfries, Abby; Anna; Bill; Eilidh; Elliot; and Miriam made the reverse journey to play in the U14 festival at Clydesdale (Titwood), where they were joined by Caven and Eilidh from Phoenix HC. This was a first festival for Abby; Bill; Eilidh T; Elliot; Caven and Eilidh, and they were in the section with the experienced Clydesdale 1; Clydesdale 2; Uddingston; and GHK teams in 8-a-side games, across 1/2 a pitch, over 1.5 hours.

Dumfries’ first game against Clydesdale 2 was played without Caven and Eilidh from Phoenix, but thanks to Clydesdale giving them a player, it was played as 7 v 7 - lots of running and space, and a debut goal for Bill, after some excellent passing between Dumfries players.

Over the festival, there were no more Dumfries goals, but there were lots of clearances out of the defending circle; squeezed tackles; free hits into space; running with the ball; passes to each other; shots at goal, and the sun was shining in a bright blue sky over the hockey pitch!!

Well done, Everyone:

* to Elliot and Caven for taking control of the defensive D; stopping what looked like goals, on so many occasions; and firing the ball up the pitch
* to Abby; Anna; Eilidh T and Miriam for working tirelessly in midfield - chasing the ball; tackling; intercepting; passing
* to Bill and Eilidh for hassling the defenders; taking passes; moving on the ball; shooting at goal.

Here they after the festival ready for their next adventure on a hockey pitch: left to right: Eilidh; Abby; Anna; Caven; Elliot; Miriam; Bill; Eilidh T