Some of the most thrilling football you'll ever see happens on the training pitch.
Players want to impress the coach, so the games have an edge to them. And if the teams are the same at every session — say, attack versus defence — then rivalries develop and things get testy.
Transfer that dynamic from the training pitch to the Saturday playing field and watch the sparks fly.
Usually the game will be played in good spirit — as long as no one takes the mickey — but if a club's seconds beat the firsts it's a disaster for one team and nirvana for the other.
The only problem for underdogs who win is that etiquette demands they don't gloat. For some, that's too hard, and their gloating feeds resentment.
And that's why it's probably just as well that Heavy Equipment Services United Premiers beat United Firsts 1-0 in Eastern League 1 action at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday.
Honour was served for the Firsts. They ran the Prems close and were in with a chance of a draw right to the end.
Co-coach Aaron Graham said the performance was a welcome improvement on the previous week's lacklustre 2-1 victory over Thistle Youth.
“Everyone stepped up 100 percent from the weekend before,” Graham said.
Prems player-coach Josh Adams scored the only goal of the game midway through the first half. He ran on to a pass and let fly from the edge of the penalty area.
The Prems were without midfielder Corey Adams — a big loss to any team at this level — but younger brother Josh played a little deeper to help out and central midfielder Dane Thompson took on a bit more of the workload in the middle of the park.
Prems goalkeeper Seth Piper picked a good week to have a standout game, denying Firsts' Stu Cranswick and Graham any joy from good strikes.
For those unfamiliar with the ranking of United's teams, the Premiers are regarded as the top team — they won the Pacific Premiership last year but a shortage of players willing to travel prompted their return to local competition.
The Firsts, Seconds and Thirds follow in that order.
Two teams who have looked a lot happier since their midseason split from the first division are Tatapouri Bohemians and Sunshine Brewing Wainui Salty Dogs.
The more populous and less physically demanding nature of second division football has afforded them more victories and more variety of opposition.
Last Saturday they fought out a tit-for-tat 2-2 draw.
Wainui stalwart Mike Vita explained: “They got one, we got one; they got one, we got one.”
Wainui went close early, notably when Simon Blaker's shot hit the crossbar, but the Bohs struck first.
About 20 minutes in, Bohemians striker Tom Paenga put pressure on a passback and ended up with his name on the scoresheet.
Zane Destounis equalised for Wainui, and the teams were level at halftime.
With 15 minutes to go, Bohemians centreback Jeremy Ion surged forward and shot from 30 metres to regain the lead for his side.
Wainui hit back through Marcel Campbell, who capped a fine game by meeting a cross and directing the ball goalwards five minutes from time.
Midfielder and left-flank marauder Jimmy Lawrence was the Wainui man of the match.
For Bohemians, Stan Bodle put in a man-of-the-match shift on the right wing and at leftback. Younger brother George Bodle had some good right-wing runs that almost ended in goals.
Luke Fisher had another good game at rightback and Adam Situ shone on the left wing and up front.
Like many teams, Bohemians have suffered through players being unavailable because of injury or illness.
Player-coach Chris Cockburn had his first game in four weeks after recovering from a quadriceps injury.