Saturday 10^th December

Sonning Men’s 2’s v Marlow Men’s 2’s

Result Lost 4-1

This week the Men’s 2’s ‘match report’ will take you on an educational journey across the Atlantic Ocean to ‘Great Plains’ of North America, and the Weaponry of the Native American Indians.

Though axes, and even throwing axes, have long been a part of history in Europe (the Vikings often using throwing axes), the tomahawk deserves its own page in history dedicated to violence, because of its role in warfare in North America. The name tomahawk originates with the Algonquin people, but it was a dominant weapon across much of the continent, usually appearing at the side of the native warriors.

The tomahawk was primarily hand-to-hand combat weapon used by Native North Americans. It was also used as a missile, and could be thrown with impressive accuracy. It was occasionally used for a rushed scalping job. The Native Americans could be called masters of intimidation, for they often stood at distance from their enemy, screaming and brandishing bloody tomahawks before melting into the wilderness to attack guerrilla style (something the rank and file Europeans were not experienced at combating).

Until the coming of the Europeans (and with them steel), the tomahawk was usually made out of stone, typically with one or both edges sharpened. It could also be made out of a deer's horn or the jaw bone of a large animal. A wooden handle was fastened to the head in a number of ways, by inserting the tomahawk head through a hole in the wood, by tying leather thongs around the head and wood, or splitting the wood and tying the head into the crevice. If the tomahawk was to be used as a throwing weapon, great care went into creating a balanced wooden handle and head.

Ceremonial tomahawks were richly decorated with painted feathers, and they often had a hollow stem fixed at the end with a pipe bowl for smoking. Amongst some Native American tribes, the tomahawk was buried in the earth when peace was attained with a former enemy. It is believe this is where the phrase, "burying the hatchet" originated.

Saturday’s encounter with Marlow saw the ruthless effects of the ‘Tomahawk Shot’ when Men’s 2’s ‘Moral Compass’ Paul Harris found his bearings and let fly. His shot bellowing into the Rigging of the Marlow goal! The celebrations followed in a ‘Monty Panesar style’ (as requested by skipper Rob Merriman). The minor fact that, at this point Marlow were currently 4 goals to the good, is neither here nor there, to be honest! It’s probably best we don’t talk about the defensive misdemeanours which led to this score line. But with 4-1 as the half time score the 2’s rallied to a 0-0 second half showing that their heart and testicular fortitude is still strong.

Motm - Paul Harris (Not sure why)

Dotd – Sean Rakauskas (Windmill swish, Ladies Leggings, Silly head attire)

(However a dark cloud hangs over the 2’s as allegations of vote rigging are rife, since the introduction of the Fantasy hockey league)