The mens 3s rounded off the first half of the season with a visit from Hillhead 7s.

The visitors had struggled to get a team together but had travelled with 11 players, many of whom hadn't played in the game earlier in the season which ended in a 1-2 defeat for the young Doonhamers.

Dumfries struggled to get out the blocks and the visitors scored three goals in the first fifteen minutes. The first a flick from a penalty corner that ended up in the top corner and wouldn't have looked out of place in division 1! There were little in the way of chances in the first half, the closest coming when T Law's deflection from a penalty corner went narrowly over the crossbar. Patterson then had a shot from another penalty corner that ended up a yard or so wide of the goal. Half time, 0-3.

Words of encouragement at half time went unheard as the second half started in the same vein as the first, with Hillhead scoring two quick goals. But, the youngsters continued to work away knowing that results mean little and its all about improvements this year. A quickly taken free hit from J Callander saw the hosts awarded a penalty corner which would see I Callander round both runners and the goalkeeper before flicking the ball into the goal. A second followed almost immedietly for the boys in red when N Carr pounced on a loose clearance and found the ball sitting inches from the goal with a simple tap in, 2-5. The visitors upped their game in the closing stages of the game and made their experience count scoring another couple of goals. Special mention to Turner in goals who pulled off a great save, one on one with the striker. In heated exchanges late in the game, one of the Hillhead players would see a yellow card given. Full time 2-7.

Fantastic effort again from all of the boys against a very, very, tough opposition in the development league. Improvement in every one of them is clear to see as the weeks go past. Player of the match was awarded to Fraser Steele for his tireless energy throughout the game.

Thanks go to Ross and James for giving up their time and umpiring the game.

It's now time for the winter break with games restarting in late January.