Fresh chance to bend it like Beckham

Sports reporter Ruth Dacey takes up the challenge and steps back on the pitch for Rotorua United. Photo / Stephen Parker

This week the Rotorua Daily Post begins a participation column with sports reporter Ruth Dacey taking her best shot at different sports in the area.

A regular weekend occurrence for me during my younger years was pulling on an oversized football kit, tightening my already muddy studs and trying to work some magic on an often wet and windy football field with my fellow 10 teammates.

And hopefully I'm not viewed as too much of a traitor back in my hometown of Sheffield in the UK, after stints with both Sheffield Wednesday and United.

But with the recent kick-off of the UEFA Euro 2016 and the inspirational New Zealand Football Ferns call-up for local lass Paige Satchell, it was time for me to dust off the cobwebs from my unloved looking boots and get back playing "the beautiful game".

I decided to head down to one of Paige's former clubs - Rotorua United, and as I stepped out of the car at Neil Hunt Park on a wet and windy night for my first training, feelings of fear and trepidation set in.

Match fitness was desperately lacking and my trusty right foot was feeling rather rusty after several years out of regular practice.

However I was made to feel right at home by Rotorua United's second team Irish coach Anne Doherty, originally from Donegal, who joined the club in 2009, and the rest of the multi-cultural squad made up of players from the far flung corners of the earth - including America and Brazil and now the footy mad England.

I excitedly agreed to play in the side's next home fixture against Whakatane Town after training and hoped I could add some extra bite in central midfield.

Little did I know the side had lost 5-0 against their opponents earlier and Whakatane are regular title contenders.

Match day arrived and I eagerly pulled on the bright yellow and blue kit, which was of course several sizes too large.

Immediately after the referee's first whistle I could see why Whakatane were third in the division - they played the ball around confidently and looked dangerous up front.

However we stuck to a tight structure and harried every opponent on the ball lead from the back by a vocal Anne.

I was pleased to get some good touches, providing some nice interplay with fellow central midfielder Kylee Christie and taking the team's set pieces.

With a solid defensive performance and thanks to excellent goal-keeping from Judith Sherwood, we went in all square at half-time.

We managed to hold them at bay until 10 minutes to go when we were caught off guard from a corner.

Whakatane played a neat one-two and their captain rose powerfully above our defence to head high into the roof of the neat.

My heart sank, especially as I had a good opportunity 5 minutes earlier when I saw a high shot saved by the goal keeper's fingertips.

As the final whistle rang out disappointment was also tinged with sudden, severe cramp down my left calf - fitness is clearly a work in progress.

However, it was a valiant performance for the team and I'll make sure I step back on the pitch in the foreseeable future.