Lorna’s Report from Andorra – Day 2

The ice crew's place in Heaven is assured; they have worked tirelessly to produce championship standard ice and practice can begin at 8am. Handily however Team England's practice is at 9.15. Practice goes well and everyone is relieved to finally be on ice, as well as delighted with the improvement of the ice conditions.

The first game against Hungary is not until 7.30 in the evening, so for a change the team head into town to go gadget shopping, bringing the daily average trips into town to buy gadgets to about three. The team has lunch in the same restaurant as yesterday and are all tickled that their host has seen the competition on the news. Confusion reigns when the menu, which yesterday was in English, is today only in Catalan. The afternoon is spent relaxing and preparing for the evening's game.

Finally, the very first English mixed international game begins against Hungary who have been rapidly improving and are a potential banana skin. Hungary get off to a very tidy start, and team England are a little shaky. The score is 3-3 at the half way point, but Hungary look to have the upper hand in a fairly defensive game played mostly in the house. A change of tactics and more consistent play from the England team in the second half sees Hungary under more pressure with guards outside, and finally there is a breakthrough in the 7th end with a tidy 4 after a few Hungarian misses. The 8th end is a bit nerve-wracking (especially for Forbes and Lorna who are helplessly watching from the end) but the team does enough to force another mistake from Hungary and seal the win 9-4. A successful start. Forbes takes a photo of the first English win in mixed international competition for posterity, and the team celebrate with a little glass of Rioja that is, thankfully, to Chris's taste before going to bed.