Cubs from across the District gathered in Liss on Sunday 6 March for the annual 6 a side football tournament. The teams were playing for the Rodney Bishop Trophy and the honour of representing the District at the Hampshire County Cubs Football tournament later in the month.
After postponement from February because of waterlogged pitches, it was a chilly, frosty morning, but dry and the games were on!
The 8 teams were drawn into 2 groups. In Group 1, Liphook Wheatsheaf came through with an impressive 100% record in their 3 games. Sheet Adhurst were runners up with 2 wins. Petersfield Yellows and Liphook Downlands played out a draw to both finish with a point.
Meanwhile in Group 2 Sheet Broadlands played very well just losing out in their games by the narrowest of margins. Petersfield Reds secured a draw with Liphook Oakhanger. Liss won their opening 2 games, so it came down to a decider for 1st place, which Oakhanger won, with Liss going through in 2nd place.
The pitches were getting muddier, the wind was getting colder, the hot drinks and bacon rolls were popluar with the fans and we got underway with the semi-finals. Home team Liss played well but were edged out by another great performance from Wheatsheaf. In a tight game, Adhurst and Oakhanger matched each other for goals and it came down to a count of corners, with Oakhanger going through. Liss secured third place in the play off with Adhurst.
Oakhanger put up a good display in the final but it was free-scoring Wheatsheaf’s day: they went right through the tournament without conceding a goal, to lift the Rodney Bishop trophy in this Cubs Centenary Year.
All the Cubs, coaches, leaders and spectators expressed their thanks to referees Harry and Toby, and we wish Wheatsheaf well at the county event.