Over this summer a collection of the Men's 2’s and 3’s played in a divisional summer league based at Timperley Sports Village. On the 5th July, they emerged victorious in their group, winning the playoff final.

Starting at the end of May, they played a collection of shortened matches on a Friday night over 8 weeks, sometimes playing as many as 5 games in a night. After a hard league campaign in stifling heat, the Bolton Select finished 4th in their division, enough to qualify for the playoffs.

In the Semi-Final, they played League winners City of Manchester B. The divisional winners were confident, but the Bolton boys were not to be overawed. A tense affair ended 2-2, going to extra time. With a place in the final on the line, nothing could separate the two teams and it went to shuffles. Bolton progressing with the victory. A major upset, but they didn’t care, a place in the final awaited.

In the other Semi Final, 2nd placed Lymm A defeated 3rd placed City of Manchester A.

So, the grand finale, Lymm vs Bolton. In baking heat, tired bodies would go to battle one final time. Tired eyes already on the full-time refreshments.

This perhaps led to the high-scoring game. The final score ended 4-4, another draw, another extra time. Two more goals shared in extra time for 5-5, surely not the drama of shuffles again…

A last minutes Penalty Corner to Bolton, pressure on Lymm, pressure they couldn’t handle. A goal and the victory. A 6-5 final score. Ecstasy in victory, devastation in defeat. Was it tears, was it sweat, it didn’t matter, it tasted like success!

A special thanks to inspirational leader and Coach, Phil Morgan, for organising, inspiring, and mentoring the team to victory!

Let’s take this great result into the new season.