Cardiff Chaos, Comebacks and Corners: Men’s 1st team Tour Report

Cardiff Chaos, Comebacks and Corners: Men’s 1st team Tour Report

Cardiff Tour | 22-23 August 2026

As the saying goes, even the best-laid plans rarely survive contact with reality. The Men’s 1st team discovered that before we’d even left the M25.

What was meant to be a straightforward pre-season tour to Cardiff quickly became an exercise in crisis management. Injuries forced several late additions to the squad, our venue changed at short notice, Enterprise Hire decided that supplying the booked minibus was apparently only a suggestion, and a vehicle fire on the M4 added a touch of extra excitement to the journey. A lively start, then, and an early test for new Coach Lee Ible.

Somehow, despite all of this, Southgate arrived at Cardiff Metropolitan University Cyncoed campus more or less on time. Better still, the sun was shining for a weekend in Wales, that alone felt like a victory.

The tour also gave supporters an early look at several new faces in the squad. James Smith, Archie Vaughan, Leo Scirre, Alex Asif and James Stock made their first appearances, while Kitt Skillett, Jay Brady, Alex Prior, Will Biggins and James Willoughby joined the travelling party as players familiar to the club but new to the Men’s 1st team environment.

Saturday: Last-Second Drama

Cardiff Met may have been missing a handful of players away representing Wales at the World Cup, but there were still plenty of familiar faces from recent Premier Division encounters.

The game started evenly, and Southgate won a penalty corner within the opening minutes. Unfortunately, the combination of scorching temperatures and a sand-dressed pitch made drag-flicking somewhat problematic. The first injection failed to reach its intended destination, proving that not every set piece is destined for the highlight reel.

The match settled into a competitive rhythm. Southgate’s midfield, marshalled impressively by Max and Archie, looked composed in possession, while youngsters Kitt and Jay continually asked questions of the Cardiff defence.

Just before half-time, Southgate got the reward their play deserved. Alex Prior broke the deadlock with a well-taken finish to send the visitors into the break 1-0 ahead.

Cardiff responded strongly after the restart, levelling the scores within five minutes. Undeterred, Southgate continued to push forward, earning three penalty corners but failing to find a way through. The two new goalkeepers, James and Alex, produced several impressive saves to ensure Southgate remained in the contest.

Then came another setback. Cardiff grabbed a second goal around the 60th minute, leaving Southgate staring at a narrow defeat.

What happened next was a masterclass in refusing to give up.

With three minutes remaining, Southgate won yet another penalty corner. Up stepped James Smith, who unleashed a drag flick into the net to make it 2-2.

The celebrations had barely subsided before Southgate earned one final corner with virtually the last action of the game. The final whistle sounded. One last chance. One final injection.

Once again, James Smith stepped forward.

Once again, the ball found the backboard.

Cue celebrations, disbelief and probably a few exaggerated retellings of the moment.

Southgate 3, Cardiff Met 2.

Tour off to the perfect start.

Saturday Night…

As for Saturday evening…What goes on tour stays on tour.

Sunday: Sunshine, Survival and Sweaty Hockey

Sunday brought another glorious day of sunshine and an early start for a midday push-back.

With Mo unavailable on Saturday, he heroically made the four-hour drive from somewhere in Yorkshire to bolster the squad. His arrival was perfectly timed, as Raj had picked up an ankle injury the previous day, leaving Southgate with just 15 outfield players for what promised to be another energy-sapping afternoon in the heat.

Cardiff fielded a younger side on Sunday and started brightly. In fairness, Southgate appeared to spend the opening ten minutes trying to work out whether the match had actually started.

This may, or may not, have been connected to events from the previous evening.

To add another challenge, the author’s trusty iPad decided that the Welsh sunshine was too much to handle and began overheating. The substitution system immediately reverted to manual mode, exposing a serious flaw in modern hockey administration. It also exposed a serious flaw in the author’s brain, namely that after a Saturday night on tour, mental arithmetic becomes surprisingly difficult.

Cardiff took advantage of their bright start and deservedly moved into a 1-0 lead.

That goal, however, seemed to provide exactly the wake-up call Southgate needed.

Suddenly the energy levels lifted, passes began finding their target and the visitors started to look much more like the side that had produced Saturday’s late heroics.

Southgate pressed forward, with James Smith equalising from yet another penalty corner drag flick. While Cardiff occasionally threatened, Southgate increasingly took control of the game.

Jay Brady then grabbed his first goal for the Men’s 1st team, to put Southgate 2-1 ahead, giving another glimpse of the exciting young talent coming through the club.

Southgate continued to pressure the Cardiff goal and soon added a third. The source of the goal will come as little surprise. Another well-worked penalty corner, another expertly executed drag flick, and James Smith had his second of the day.

With seconds remaining, Southgate won one final penalty corner. Could it be four? Could it be a hat-trick for James Smith? The travelling support held its breath.

Sadly, it was not to be.

But a 3-1 victory, another strong team performance and a second win from two made for a highly successful weekend.

The new players were integrated seamlessly into the squad, old friendships were strengthened, and plenty of positive signs emerged ahead of the new season.

Tour Verdict

Two days in Cardiff delivered:

Most importantly, it provided exactly what pre-season tours are meant to deliver: quality hockey, squad bonding and plenty of stories for the months ahead.

The Men’s 1st team return home with optimism building and a growing sense that this could be a very exciting season indeed.

After overcoming travel chaos, injuries, logistical mishaps, Welsh sunshine and questionable Saturday-night decision-making, two wins from two was an excellent return.