Dave Warner writes about his Masters 45 team, how they started the season, how covid affected their season, and how they are persevering through to the end of the season

The Selwyn O45 Pedal Pushers is a new team that has been put together mainly from players from our old O35 team from last year that realised chasing a 45 year old is much easier than a 35 year old whippet. We did do some off season recruiting to bolster the squad and welcomed - Marc Shea, Coen Lammers, Robin Lopez, Rob Carlisle (realised he is getting old), Justin Rivard and Peter Krisopp. 

Our yearly sponsorship with The Pedal Pusher was renewed, the usual table booked for every Friday evening and after our home games. The lads started mingling for kick arounds really early in the year (January). 

As the months got closer to the start of the season the numbers were still looking good and everyone was gearing up for another great year on the footy pitch. 

As we all know, the season was put in disarray due to Covid but this just enhanced our hunger to get out and play as soon as we could at Level 2. Unfortunately our fitness took a knock in lockdown but we did get back onto the training paddocks and eagerly waited the green light from Mainland. We hastily organised 2 friendlies, winning 7-0 against Hornby (Div 7) and going own 3-2 to FC Twenty (O45) which was a great indicator of what we were going to expect in the O45 league. The big adjustment to this season has been no sliding tackles and a few of the boys took a while to adjust to this with many sliding in during the 1st game on a very wet Foster Park. 

As of this weekend (22.08.20) the results have not really gone our way. P 10 W1 D1 L8 GF 17 GA 30 Pts 4 However, Master 45 have been very competitive in ever game, we have lost 5 games when if we were honest should have won quite easily. Justin Rivard has been in good form and bagged a hat trick in our 4-3 loss to Cash Tech and he has been well supported by Steve Richardson and Pete Krisopp up front. Special mention goes to our goal keeper Marc Shea who is coming back out of 6 year retirement and has been great in the goals so far. Our back 4 of Rob Carlisle, Craig Potter, Darryn Ingram and Steve Reid are just as combative as any defenders going around and win most 50/50 that come their way. Dave Warner, Aaron Hunter, Shane Potter, Keith Prince and Jason Brotherway have been our mainstay in the midfield with all of them getting on the score sheet during the season. Robin Lopez has gone from strength to strength this season as he has shaken off the cob webs of not playing for 10 years. With in the 2nd round now upon us a few of the lads have picked up some old age injuries (Greg Stenhouse, Keith Prince and Coen Lammers having a op on his wrist) so this weekend bye has come at a great time. With 7 more games left the O45 are looking to continue playing a good brand of football being competitive on the paddock, rekindling friendships and most of all enjoy playing with our mates from Selwyn F