More post-match chunterings from Tel-boy....

Bristol Horfield hosted City this weekend in a game where the winners would take top spot in the league. Horfield were top, at home, and at nearly full strength. Cardiff were two places below and were missing a posse of boys from the squad.

The game was less than a minute old when debutant Lee O'Sullivan tasted life in the top division, Horfield's Dave Hall fizzing past to claim a simple runner. A repeat of last years 24-3 romp this would not be. Captain Susan soon levelled the scores with a well-executed long shot.

The hosts then missed a penalty, which was immediately seized on by Ceri, who scored from the back after a perfectly weighted long diagonal from Rachel. Horfield then scored from short and then long to reclaim the lead.

The divisions were soon turned back around as Dave netted a runner to start his days' haul. Ceri then added a brace to take City into a 3-5 lead; his first a little post shot after Sian had opened up the attack, the second a pacey runner of his own.

Dave dropped in a penalty to claim his second and City's 6th, but fluffed the chance to add another shortly after. He did however add one from another off a diagonal, this time it was Midge carving open the defence. Ceri then added to his total with a neat shot on the post.

The lead however, was due to much more than just Dave and Ceri's shooting. The work in the defence was sterling. Lee adapted fast to his rude awakening and had a tight rein on the host's star player, with Ceri mopping up anything behind it. In the same end, Sian displayed her defensive prowess with several interceptions in front of the helpless feed. In the other division, Susan had the danger girl in her pocket, with Midge untroubled against another classy girl attacker. The boys were equally solid, with fellow debutant Ian O'Sullivan sticking to his task with sterling concentration.

It was a half City didn't want to end, but it did, and the second saw Horfield slowly whittle away the visitors' 5 goal lead.

Early trading was very much a status quo, with neither team finding ways past markers. Midge and Dave absorbed most of the pressure in the forecourt and on the post respectively. However, the dam did break, and two quick long shots in succession, dragged the lead back to 3. Dave showed any trick they could do better, dropping one in from the halfway line.

Horfield were top of the league for a reason, and their tenacity was clear for all to see, however, it needed some smart coaching too. Picking up on City's skintight front defence, balls started to drop over the feed, and two quick goals on the turn over the defence brought the score back to 7-9.

Cometh, the moment, cometh the captain. No sooner was her end back in attack, she had the ball in the basket with a determined runner that never dared to miss. Ian showed some deft touches in his first game up with the big boys, but none cuter than his little turn on the post that earned Dave his 3rd successful penalty.

Whatever Horfield had planned on, they had not planned on sibling rivalry. Lee getting the radar spot on, nailing a long shot. A short goal from the hosts dragged it back again, as the goals started to come thick and fast in the closing stages. Dave claimed his 6th on the run before the ball finally fell in at the other end after a few laps of the rim. The game would end with Lee proving his first was no fluke, as again he landed a great long shot as Horfield's rebounding game him the space to line it up.

The 9-14 end result was almost certainly due to City's 6 goal burst in the 2nd quarter. City were never as in control as they might have been with Harry in the side, but the lead was always big enough to look comfortable. Horfield are a much stronger proposition this season than last, with their girls especially dangerous in attack, but credit to the royal blue girls for muting them. Special mention must go to Lee and Ian O'Sullivan who looked very comfortable in the company they were keeping.

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