From across the playing fields of St Dunstan’s College a group of keen parents dressed in red and white could be seen partaking in a well organised warm-up routine. Meanwhile Mr Linfield and Mr May were exhausting themselves whilst playing boys’ football and showing off their silky skills to Year 6. This didn’t bode well. With last minute strategies being discussed and practised by the parents, Mr Buckle was busy squeezing his fine head of curly locks into a fetching red wig, whilst the ‘mystery player’ (rumoured to be Jo Brand or Miss Marcinkiewicz) was lobbing rugby balls from a great distance to the netball posts with a huge amount of success. On this fine performance Mr Duckworth was appointed goal shooter for the teachers, surely we couldn’t lose! Miss Bate had previously expressed some concern for his health and well-being though, so just half a game would suffice.
The game started off with a flourish from the teachers who found themselves 2-0 up in the early stages. Parents’ captain Mrs Aladese rallied her troops and they applied the pressure. At this point the rules of netball seemed to fall by the wayside and good old fashioned brute force crept into the game. After a couple of falls, a hand injury and a free for all on obstruction, the half-time whistle blew with a score line of 2-1.
The temperature was searing but energy levels were still high(ish) and the second half was underway. What happened in the following 7 minutes is anyone’s guess; it all went by in a blur of sweat and a helping of testosterone. The parents seemed to be taking the lead but the ball was still end to end. I can only imagine that our eventual loss of 3-5 was due to the substitution of our guest OAP, or maybe the parents were just better on the day.
The match really was not for the feint hearted, and our reserve player Mr Priddin was breathing a sigh of relief that he had been assigned to other duties. Whilst the game was in progress a shooting contest was underway, with some children fleecing their parents for cash to fund their quest for the title. With 6 goals from 6 shots Mimi Strutt-Clare was the champion, her father was delighted but his pockets were a little lighter on the way home.
The event raised £142 for Sport Relief and entertained the children immensely.
