Pre-season Hockey success

Pre-season Tournament, Tuesday 3rd January

The 1^st XI enjoyed a successful pre-season tournament, winning the competition we host for the 4^th successive year.  The boys managed to win 4 out of 4 games without conceding a goal, beating Alleyn's 4-0, Abingdon 2-0, King's Canterbury 1-0 and Cranbrook 1-0.

This result bodes well for another successful 1^st XI season in 2012, as the team played an expansive and open game with great ball pace.  The number of goals scored (8) and conceded (0) is a positive sign for the first competitive fixture against Trinity School on Saturday 7^th January.

2012 Centenary Game, Wednesday 4th January
OE President’s XI vs Eltham College 1^st XI 

Eltham College   DREW 3-3   (David Lawrence 2, Alex Tate)

Facing an extremely strong OE team, the 1^st XI managed to come back from 3-1 down with 10 minutes remaining to snatch a draw in the first of many Centenary events this year.  On a wet and windy night the 1^st XI drew first blood with David Lawrence finishing off a solid team move.  The OE ‘All-stars’, containing many of the schools best ever hockey players, were formidable opposition and the standard of play from both teams was exceptionally high.  The OEs drew level through Matthew Burton-Bowen, who currently plays in the National League for Canterbury.

At half time, and with two days of pre-season games and training behind them, the 1^st XI seemed tired and a lack of care led to the team going 2-1 down as Michael Lawrence of Loughborough Students and Blackheath stole the ball and drove a reverse stick shot through the legs of keeper Ben Sales.  An almost carbon copy of the second goal led to the 3^rd as Michael Lawrence again stole the ball in midfield, drove into the D and smashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

Nevertheless the 1^st XI refused to be beaten and found some renewed energy, forcinga short corner with 10 minutes to play.  Alex Tate found a gap with a drag flick through Mark Philpot to bring the score back to 3-2.  It was with seconds left on the clock that a final 1^st XI counter-attack led to a last-gasp chance to level the scores, with Tom Archer of Leeds University and Victoria giving away a foul on the edge of the D which led to a short corner. David Lawrence, not to be outdone by brother Michael, beat a defender at the top of the D before flicking past Mark Philpot to grab a hard-fought draw and a share of the Old Boys' trophy.