It has been a year since these ‘titans’ of Hertfordshire volleyball last met on court, sharing the spoils that time with a 2-2 draw.
Exhausted after watching juniors finish their training session, it took most players 10 minutes to realise this was a volleyball match we were here to take part in and not a social catch up to boast on what body parts were either inactive, broken or replaced.
Welwyn won the toss and chose to serve and immediately went into a 4-0 lead, mainly as Harriers players were admiring the clean bounce of the ball on the pristine sprung floor. Movement of mind and body was employed and a competitive game started to break out. Welwyn kept up the lead until the 20’s, when Harriers discovered a weak spot in their defence, which they managed to remember for long enough to close out the first game 23-25.
In the absence of any surgical tape, a roll of gaffer was produced and applied liberally to various players to hold them together through the next set. This was an equally well contested game with no team taking any advantage of the eye-burning haze from numerous deep-heat applications. Welwyn went on to take the set by an equally small margin to the first. Jeez! this was going to be a long session.
Harriers took control of the third set after some inspiring volleyball from both sides. It was like the good old exchanges between the sides over the years. Creaking joints and puffing cheeks and a ten second allowance to get up off the floor are just part of our game now. Harriers began to stretch their lead and took the third set 25-18.
The wind was quickly extinguished from the Harriers sails as Welwyn hit back in the fourth set building on a strong start. With the click ticking down the appearance of the hall staff offering Harriers a chance of a fourth set forfeit. Welwyn mercilessly took the next 3 points to restore the status quo.
As I sit down to write this match report on the following morning with an ice pack on my knee and some conflict in my legs, there is warmth in my heart that this good natured regular fixture will stay in the sporting calendar. Despite the odd youngster, most of us are now in our fifties, a few in their sixties and even one in his seventies, which just goes to show that this great game can be enjoyed by all.
Until we meet again.
Mick
