The season got underway at the Farnham Leisure Centre with four teams contesting this year’s championship.

Herne Bay won the opening game , 7-1, against home club Farnham. Having played together for some time, the Herne team work proved decisive. Farnham, on the other hand, are a team composed of players from three clubs, for whom there would be no tournaments otherwise.

Herne Bay Utd confirmed the dominance of Kent roller hockey by defeating a young Plymouth team, 12-4.

Having both suffered defeats in the opening games, Plymouth and Farnham then met in a battle that swung one way then another. So the final result, a 7-7 draw, was probably a fair reflection of the way the game was played.

Then came the game we all wanted to see. Herne Bay against Herne Bay Utd. It is probably fair to say that the referees were being a little more lenient at this first tournament than thy might be later in the season. Apart from some robust tackling, there was a certain amount of “afters” off the ball, not always within the referees’ line of sight. At the final whistle a number of players skated off the rink immediately, without shaking the opposition’s hand. Wiser coaches sent them back on again to complete the game properly. Herne Bay won by 4 to 1.

This left Farnham and Plymouth to play the Herne teams they had yet to meet. Farnham lost to HBU by 8 goals to 2, and Plymouth lost the HB by 9 goals to 1.

So. at the end of the first tournament, Herne Bay have their nose in front with 6 points, HBU on 4 points, with Plymouth and Farnham on 1 point each.