School win inaugural Loveland Bowl

A huge day for the club on the 3rd January with the 1st XI playing against Reigate Priory - high up in the league above - being a forerunner for the long awaited school v the young OCs match that followed.

The school came along early and were in the stand to watch our performance which turned out to the best of the season by a long chalk. The performance was especially pleasing with our blooding the Wood brothers and there being a perceptible increase in the levels of fitness in some key areas. Indeed, the conclusion is that there are now going to be some tough but welcome selection decisions for the next three months.

1st XI 5-1 Reigate Priory
Reigate Priory are sitting third in the league above ( and could go into second should they win their game in hand on those above ) and although they themselves were four or five players short nothing should be taken away from us as we outplayed RP for the first 25 minutes and were three goals to the good, courtesy of two superb finishes from a rejuvenated and fitter Gavin and a classy finish from Nick. Rippers in the middle had his best game of the season and although we did fail to find him during a 20-minute spell when we lost the initiative his influence was key. Our three goals came from swift incisive moves down the right flank and hitting the back line. Similar moves down the left also created problems for RP and Rory was unlucky not to score his first goal for the first team when his deflection hit the bar in the dying minutes of the half. RP pressed for the last 10 of the first period with our being a little naive when tired and continuing to press rather than looking at the phase of the game and playing a more conservative game. During this time Trickster stood firm with Cato - as always - putting in a huge amount of work and capably dealing with the scraps. Nick and James Wood gave us the solidity at centre back and left midfield that frustrated the opposition.

The second half saw us on top again and a glorious sweeping move from the left across the pitch to the right byline resulted in Rory popping home the final pass to in essence wrap up the game. At this point RP woke up and stepped up their game and slotted home a good goal after a period of concerted pressure but it had to be a good strike to beat Trickster who earned his corn with his best performance of the year.

The final 10 minutes were ours and there was time for Chris Valentine to score our final goal at his second attempt to wrap an excellent victory.

The game taught us a great deal. Our fitness is still lacking in certain areas so we need to take 13 to every game and utilise the subs properly and effectively. There is also a need to recognise that at certain times of the game we need to rein in our enthusiasm. A 3 - 1 half time score would probably have put a completely different complexion on the game and to this end we did our best to throw away possession and give RP a lifeline back into the game but we stood firm.

All in all a great start to 2009 and hopefully we will have a game next week to consolidate what we learnt this week.

School 2-0 OCs 2007-8
After much gnashing of teeth and wailing the school fixture has reappeared in the calendar after a break of over a decade and on a cold but dry evening at TD the game played by both sides was worthy of the occasion to commemorate the late Roger Loveland. Fittingly Roger's widow Betty was present to make the presentation of the Loveland bowl to the school's skipper after a very exciting and entertaining game. A number of familiar faces were present in the crowd and with the parents and friends of a number of the players also in attendance the game was very well supported.

In essence the OC side will wonder how they did not run out winners due to the chances and number of short corners that came their way but they came up against Ross in the school goal who had a truly outstanding game making a series of top draw saves that kept us at bay. As the match wore on we became frustrated and the school's belief grew and 15 minutes from the end the school slotted home their second short of the game and took the lead. Although upping their game, our lack of team work counted against us with Ross again picking off anything thrown at him.

Three minutes from the end and against a stretched OC side the school nipped in to score their second and make the game safe.

The trophy was presented to the beaming school captain with the OCs pledging to win the trophy back in 2010.

I would like to thank the four umpires who helped out today in both games to save the teams taking part from having to provide unqualified umpiring and also to the school and Paddy Harman for organising the 2 teams. However the greatest thanks go to Betty Loveland and Roger's brother Tony and his wife for coming along and continuing the great Loveland service to Cranleigh and OC hockey for braving the cold and in Betty's case in presenting the trophy.

We all look forward to the 2010 fixture. David Knapp