Friday 1 April 2011
The hockey season came to an end with the annual 1st XI v OA match at Tilsley Park. The 1st XI had been nervous all week looking at the evolving team being prepared by the OA captain Rhys Cadman.
The 1st XI had finished the term well with a win in their last ISHL game against Eton and an entertaining draw against MCS, so were full of confidence. That confidence took a bit of dent when the final OA team was announced and one of the finest teams ever to grace Tilsley Park was assembled. Junior internationals, regular premier league players, university captains, current Oxford Blues all responded to the challenge.
The game started with the 1st XI taking control of the game early on, going 2 - 1 with cool finishes from Sam Clark-Warry and Toby Blong. That momentum was being clawed back by the OAs, with Chris Newman and Dom Roche showing the composure that comes with experience.
The OA strike force was looking dangerous and it didn't take long before the 1st XI were being asked some serious questions. The combination of Chris Cowan, Charlie Lester and Royden Burt all looked threatening, with Jonny Bayfield and Paz Rabindran keen to support.
Everywhere you looked there was talent on the pitch and the 1st XI were playing out of their skins to stay in the game. The sight of Toby Roche making a late appearance did nothing to lift the confidence of the 1st XI and the OAs went into the half time break leading 5-3.
After the break, the OAs started spraying the ball around and the game became stretched, allowing Toby Roche and Royden Burt space to operate. They looked to be getting away from the 1st XI going 7-3 up, before Toby Blong and Gregor Hearn both finished well from the backhand side to make the final score 8-5.
It was a hugely entertaining match and the Chris Newman v Gregor Hearn battle in the centre of the pitch was one of the highlights. Many thanks to all the OAs for coming back and the 1st XI will be hoping for revenge next year.
OAs - Chris Cowan, Chris Newman, JJ Robinson, Matt Purssell, Rhys Cadman, Shanx Tandon, Jonny Bayfield, Charlie Lester, Dom Roche, Toby Roche, Paz Rabindran, Harry Hole, Royden Burt, JPN.
SRB
