The 1st hockey team has registered 13 wins; 1 draw and 1 loss, making their way through six rounds of competition to qualify for final of the National U18 Plate competition, to be held at Lee Valley on April 24.
After a narrow 2-1 loss to MCS in the first round of the Cup, the team has been unbeaten in all competition since. Coincidentally, the draw was against Bradfield College, who Abingdon will play in the Plate Final. In what has already been a hectic March, the team has put together six consecutive victories in barely two weeks, with Plate wins against Kimbolton, New Hall, Felsted and Scarborough College, while also defeating Radley and KES Southampton in regular weekend fixtures.
Not surprisingly, Wednesday’s semi-final was a tight affair, with the team battling fatigue as much as a determined opponent. With a 1-0 lead at half time, Abingdon scored soon after to be in control of the match however, and aided by several missed opportunities, Scarborough dug deep and took control of possession with only the heroics of Dylan in goal keeping them at bay.
With 5 minutes to go, Dylan was finally beaten and a tense finale beckoned. Finally though, a good counter attack resulted in a penalty corner and Reuben stepped up to score the all-important third goal, taking the game almost beyond reach. Scarborough then interchanged their goalkeeper for another field player and with Abingdon more settled, they held firm and scored twice in quick succession to run out 5-1 winners.
