Ró Hockey's 'In the onion-bag'

Sixths Machine Rolls On Amid Chaotic Scenes

Sport is all about emotions. Be it the joy of victory, or the devestation of defeat, we can see it almost every day, in almost every country. Of course, sport is also about the more 'underhand' of emotions. For every Nancy Kerrigan, there's a Tonya Harding; for every Pele overhead kick, there's a Maradona 'hand of god'. I'd like to say this darker side of sport is far away from UCD hockey. Alas, I 'd be lieing if I did. 

Its become obvious for some time now that not everyone is happy with the start the Ladies Sixths have made to the season. Victory on the opening day of the season against Muckross was met with patronising smiles - oh the sixths won a game, how quaint. But two more wins on the road in following weeks started to make people think. First of all Newbridge's year long unbeaten home record was taken with a one-nil win, before North Kildare - South African coach and all - suffered the same fate. With other UCD sides struggling, patronising smiles were gone, replaced by one of those underhand emotions refered to earlier - jealousy.

You see the sixths always played a special role in the club. No matter how bad things were going with your team, at least it wasn't as bad as the sixths. Now thats changed.

All of this came to a head on Saturday in the college derby. The day was meant to be all about the hockey. Two sides who like to pass the ball, playing on the sand based 'carpet', in front of a large crowd. The sixths were delighted to see such a large college following - finally people were taking an interest in their push for honours. Alas this was not the case. It soon emerged just who the crowd wanted to see win. Despite the three points being essential if the sixths wanted to stay in the title chase, every one of their attacks was booed, every sevenths attack cheered. The jealousy had finally surfaced, and was showing it's ugly head. When the sevenths had a goal disallowed, sixth XI substitutes actually had to shelter from missiles being thrown, while umpires had to stop the game so furious spectators could be removed from the pitch by services. Similar scenes greeted Brennan's winner, and the victors, on their home ground, actually had to have an escort to get to the safety of the changing rooms on full time*.  

Yes, much to the mobs dissapointment the sixths were victorious, keeping the title dream alive. It had been a good hard fought game of hockey, but what should have been an enjoyable afternoon for everyone was far from it.

But that's OK......................      

Next week, in the words of Gavin Jones, witness 'the new sixths'. No longer playing for the club......only playing for the team. You all showed your true colours on Saturday. But you failed in your quest to make us falter. All you have done is succeed in making us stronger.... now it's the sixths against the world.

Ró

* The last two sentances may not be completely true, but I seem to remember something like that happening.

The calm before the storm - Ladies Sixths before the game.