U12 Boys Regional Champions

Following their victory in the Essex Cup the boys of the U12’s team gathered at warm and sunny Harleston Magpies HC on Saturday 8th April, determined to add the Regional Cup to their collection and book a place at the National Finals. In their first match against the hosts they got off to a slow, very tentative start, and for a while it looked like the weight of expectation might get the better of them. However, they battled through and managed to score 2 goals to beat Harleston Magpies 2:0. Hopes that this would settle the nerves came to no avail as they next met a very strong Norwich City who caused them significant problems. Despite taking an early lead the boys were quickly pegged back to 1:1 and it took a late goal to scrape a 2:1 win. This seemed to settle them down a little and they started to produce some of the hockey that we know they are capable of, finishing the pool stages with comfortable wins over Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge City. 

This secured them first place in their pool and set up a semi-final against Norwich Dragons. Not only did the boys feel they had a score to settle from 2 years ago, they also knew that a place at the Nationals was at stake. They rose to the occasion and produced their best hockey to secure a 7:0 victory and a place in the final. It was a fantastic performance and prompted a coach from St Neots to say;

“It was a real pleasure watching your team play today. It's great to see lads so young playing that brand of passing hockey and playing as a team”.

The day was not over though, and there was still a final to play which turned out to be a re-match against Norwich City. Having beaten them earlier in the day, when they were not playing their best, confidence was high and expectation even higher. However, the boys didn’t get off to a good start and conceded an early goal, but their heads did not drop, and they showed great fight and determination to go straight back down the other end and equalise. They found the inspiration they needed to find the back of the net for a second time and then battled valiantly to defend their lead. Eventually the final whistle came, signalling a 2:1 victory and making them regional winners.

Though they didn’t play their best throughout the day, they played with great grit and determination and ground out results when needed. When they played well, they were fantastic to watch, and throughout the day they played with wonderful team spirit. They thoroughly deserved to be crowned Regional Champions. Fantastic effort - WELL DONE BOYS AND CONGRATULATIONS!! Let’s see if we can do it all again in Nottingham at the Nationals on Saturday 13th May.

 

U10 Girls Regional Finalists

A great day at the Regional finals for the U10 girls who's fantastic energy and team spirit saw them draw their first game to Felixstowe and then win their next four beating Norwich City, Canterbury, Saffron Walden and Hertford to top their group and make it to the final.  They faced a very strong home side Harleston Magpies who beat the girls 2-0. All the girls played some great hockey and should be very proud of what they achieved finishing runners up in the Regional finals. Congratulations to Callula, Korobi, Kayuki, Grace, Phoebe, Angel, Zara, Agnes and Harriet.

U14 Boys Mercian League Quarter Final Success

After a 2 hour drive, on the hottest day of the year so far, the whistle blew at Sunbury & Walton Hawks and the U14 boys Mercian League quarter final match began. With no subs and three U12s making up the numbers it was always going to be tough.

Sunbury opened the scoring to go 1-0 up, five minutes later OL equalised with a drag flick 1-1. Old Loughts earned a stroke which was converted to give us the lead in the first quarter 2-1. In the second quarter, a slick penalty corner from Sunbury slipped through the OL's defence, meaning the score was tied going into half time. At half time, the scorching heat's effect was beginning to show in the Loughts dugout. The third quarter saw a Sunbury goal and an Old Loughts deflection take the score to 3 all. However after numerous chances and lots of battling from each and every player, the tie remained - which meant penalty shuttles. Comments such as 'so intense' and 'can't watch' spread through the players and the fans as Sunbury took their first shuttle, which was scored. Our boys responded with another goal. Sunbury failed to convert their second, and unfortunately, infectious nerves prevented Loughts from going ahead. 1-1 after two shuttles each. Sunbury scored their third, however so did Loughts. Then, an outstanding save from Paul, our heroic goalkeeper, meant Loughts had an opportunity to get in front - which they did. So, at the last shuttle, it was 3-2 to Loughts. If Sunbury missed, Loughts would be through. Everyone held their breath as the shuttle was about to be played. The tension was almost visible and I think I heard a pin drop. As the Sunbury player entered the D, Paul was there to meet him. And after an eight- second battle was fought, Paul was victorious. The U14's were through to the finals day! And after evidently fighting so hard, they were the deserved winners of an incredible match which brought blood, plenty of sweat and even a few tears.

Bring it on, finals day! (30th April 2017 @ Guilford Hockey Club)

(by OL U14 boys captain Max Garner)

Men’s 2nd XI London League Div. 2 Finalists

After a long season the Men’s 2nd XI just failed in their bid to become Division 2 champions missing out to Oxford University 2-1.