FARNHAM’S local adult floorball team, Southern Vipers, beat two big London clubs in a thrilling match at The Edge in Haslemere.

Second-in-the-table Great White Sharks were not that great, losing 4-2 to Vipers, and their sister team, Hammerhead Sharks, were then hammered 5-2.

These results move Southern Vipers up to third place in the table which is a great achievement for a team comprising mostly ex-youth players from Farnham Fireballs.

Farnham Unihockey & Floorball Club have always encouraged home-grown talent, with the original players from the U13 Shooting Stars having now worked their way through the youth programme and joined the Vipers this season.

All the teams in the South-East League include international players living in the UK. Floorball is a bigger sport in Europe, so growing the sport with British players is important.

Encouraged by the success of the Southern Vipers, a new team has been formed by the local club. Southern Venom will be made up of teenagers and veterans and will compete in the new SEL Division 2.

The UK Floorball Federation has created the new division to accommodate the growing number of teams in the area and to help bridge the speed and skills gap between youth and full adult floorball.

The Olympic-recognised sport of floorball is based on ice hockey and is one of the fastest forms of hockey. Its mix of speed and skill creates an adrenaline rush that is addictive and yet its low levels of injury and aggression make it welcoming for newcomers.