Congratulations go to Old Loughtonians younger players taking part in the Futures Cup at the weekend.  Phoebe Menear, won a Gold medal playing for the U16 girls Saxon Tigers, Harry Mellows, won a Gold medal playing for the U18 Saxon Tigers boys and Lucy Price won a silver medal, playing for the U18 girls Saxon Tigers.  Also Old Loughtonians Club Coaches: Chris Gladman and Mark Menear were the coaching team for the U18 Saxon Tigers boys squad, which ended up being champions and also winning Gold medals.

Old Loughtonians Ladies 1s played their local rivals Bromley and Beckenham at home. With several of the team’s more experienced players missing this weekend, and Bromley fighting once again for promotion after narrowly missing out last season, Loughts knew it would be a hard match. But match them they did...

Loughts found the run of play against them from the start, with Bromley getting the lion's share of decisions resulting in multiple penalty corners to defend. Loughts defended well though, with Sorcha Crowley's pace pressuring the top of the circle and Gifford on the line working her team well to keep the ball out. Loughts had defended at least 6 corners before showing a slight moment of weakness and letting Bromley knock the ball across the goal line. Yet more penalty corners were defended by Loughts, with Bromley finding the net again however the umpire deemed the ball to be too high and Loughts managed to escape. In true fashion karma played its part with Bromley's next straight strike being hit outside the circle, and touched into the net by one of Loughts defenders. This time the goal was given and Loughts were 0-2 down. 

The girls fought hard though and never showed even the slightest moment of giving up. A quick free hit on the 23 forced by Loughts high press, resulted in Sorcha Crowley free in space at the top of the circle pressurising the keeper to make a block save. Weeks of training came to fruition with Alice Melvin getting on the end of the rebound. Under pressure from a defender as well as being closed down by the keeper, Alice calmly lifted it up and into the net. Loughts came alive, anything was possible as the Bromley defence showed it had a weakness after all. Loughts continued their high press, with Meg Dawson closing down a Bromley transfer around the back. Single-handedly she contested the ball with the Bromley Centre Back who faltered, stumbled, and lost the ball. Meg showed ultimate composure, touching the ball past her and burying it into the net. Two chances, two goals - unusual stats for the ladies team.

At 2-2, Loughts went into half time with their heads held high. The second half was a very different game of hockey. Loughts conceded fewer corners and Bromley's tactics turned to crashing balls into the circle. Sorcha found herself through on the keeper to get the winner but having run herself into the ground, did not manage to find the shot. The full time whistle seemed to go quicker than the half time whistle and Loughts were delighted to come away with one point moving them up to 5th in the table. The girls grit and determination paid dividends and put them back on track to push again for top of the table. Next week will be another tough battle with Norwich Dragons away who are just 1 point behind them in the table.

On a balmy and unusually sunny Saturday the Old Loughtonians Mens 1s took on Dereham at Fortress Luxborough. After a pre-warm up warm up of no shades cricket the boys in purple and white started positively with high pressure and numerous attacking circle entries unfortunately with scant reward against some arguably overzealous last ditch tackling from the visitors. Time and time again Dereham looked to break through the Loughts press and play the crash ball through the centre to attack on the break with the classic ‘hit the big man up top tactic’ but the defence stood firm with special mention to Fred Whitfield pulling off a number of fine saves to keep the game even. Loughts were finally given a result in the opposing D with a short corner when Rob Bloss drove the line on a strong baseline run and the umpire decided he’d worn one too many agricultural tackles, but were unable to convert. Minutes before half time the visitors route one style finally paid off with another break which put them through to a 2 on 1 which was duly converted. 

Loughts picked up the pace in the second half and pressed harder winning a good percentage of ball high up the pitch. As the game became more stretched more chances came and another short corner was won by a Tom Wilson baseline drive. Mitchell Jones stepped up to fire the ball low, hard and under the keeper to bring the scores level and get the monkey that is a one goal deficit off the boys in purple’s backs. Opportunities came for both sides as the end to end style of play continued with Tom Stumbke making a goal line save from a Dereham short corner. The final minutes played out with Dereham just managing to keep the Loughts boys at bay until a mazy run from Stumbke led to a short corner with 10 seconds on the clock. With the last play of the game and a well rehearsed routine Elliot Seleska got the touch over the line to ensure all 3 points.

Goalscorer Elliot Seleska had this to say when questioned on the performance “Look, I'm happy to be the one that got the ball over the line there but I’m not one to take applause, really that was hard work from all the boys that made that happen, granted there are things to work on but I think as a squad it shows we can really pull through and get results through our hard work and working for each other”.

The team take on Havering away next weekend.