Hitchin v Bath

Final Score

Hitchin 9:5 Bath

By Nik Roberts (THIS ISN"T ABOUT ME HENCE IT SAYS BY NIK ROBERTS!!)

I could go on, as I sit (or try to sit) here writing this about the little S*** who thought it necessary to spear me in the small of the back near the end of this game, however it has been pointed out to me that it could have been 'just a bad hit, not deliberate', there again, how the butt end of a Lacrosse stick is rammed into the back with enough force to put someone out of the game is a 'mistake' is beyond me. Part of the problem is the lack of referees in the South (nothing new there), players are roped in to do the job, and so long as not biased, it's deemed OK, but the problem has now become, the few players on the pitch who see this as licence to maim, late hits, blind hits, deliberate game ending attempts to hurt are creeping in, all of which I have witnessed this season in almost every game where the players have refereed themselves. Basically the 'gentlemanly conduct' that used to be the tenet of the game is being eroded by the few. Where it will end I don't know, maybe a lawyer will end it, after all, if a career is on the line, or a kidney, it's assault, and both the player and the poor sod refereeing will be to blame. What do I tell parents of my juniors, who might be watching (kids are invincible, so don't see the threat), play Lacrosse, great game, no regulation, and a good chance to maim, maybe I'll make a poster for the schools.

The Game: Bath travelled with a reasonable squad on their longest road trip of the season, and, in fact outnumbered the home team who had only 10 players. The game was rough, but even, with keeper Nige Gates having a great game for Bath. Again Bath managed to hit the post 2 or 3 times, and it was a case of one that slipped away. Dougie Mackay waded in with 3 individual goals, and was by far the West Country teams best player on the day, and the team missed the face of skills of Ken Murray. Again another good performance, but with no result in the end, lets hope the home leg will be a different story.Quote of the day:'Arming off Bath, see I didn't miss that one' Hitchin Referee after about the third argument with the Bath captainsSwear of the dayNik Roberts, using just about every one he knows, after being speared. Funny how it's so easy to swear when in pain, yet breathing's so damn difficult.