There were plenty of fantastic matches this weekend, with 7 out of 10 teams winning. Read some of the match reports below.
Men’s 2s 6 – 0 London Edwardians 3s
“Hello my names David and I’m an addict….
It was a very cold afternoon at the main Old Cranleighan hockey pitch. Spirits were high after the long Christmas break and we were ready to get started. In the first 15 mins we had the majority of possession, working well as a team. This was clearly shown by the quick passes wide, using the space in front of us and quick crosses into the D. Jess received the ball at the top of the D, passed it to Tilly on the right who passed it back to Jess at the P spot. She controlled the ball, calmly on the left and clipped it passed the keepers left foot, setting OC 1-0 ahead in the first 7 minutes of the match. Goal 2 came relatively quickly in a similar fashion – this time with a goal by Tilly and assisted by Anaya.
The remaining 15mins of the first half left us feeling disheartened as the opposition managed to score 2 goals despite our strong defence.
After a regroup at half time we came back fighting, where we attacked with even greater pace and won several short corners. We managed a further 3 comfortable goals with Sophie getting on the score sheet after a short corner and Tilly finishing a skilful final goal in the the last minute of the game, taking her tally to 3.
Player of the match was close between Nicky & Sophie, but it was Tilly Glover who took the title for her effortless performance and controlled goals.
Well played everyone, great way to start the new year.
MOM: Tilly Glover
Goals: 3x Tilly Glover; 1x Jess Quinton; 1x Sophie Nicholls
Ladies 4s 2 – 2 Barnes L6s
On Thursday the team sheet showed 14 players … unfortunately due to illness we arrived with 11. The Barnes ladies clearly had a number of people who wanted to run off Christmas dinner and arrived with 16 players. We knew we would have a tough game.
We went out strong in the 1st half but not nearly enough shots at goal. Great save by Lizzie in the 1st 5 mins keeping Barnes off the score board. Some great team play but Barnes managed to get one over the line 2 mins before the half time.
2nd half Barnes came out guns blazing and scored a 2nd goal within 5 mins. They continued to put pressure and our defence, Lizzie, Paula, Bella, Roz and Naysa did an amazing job for 20 mins keeping them out. Charlotte had some fantastic runs on the right wing and we started to turn the tide. With 10 minutes to go we found our compass with Colleen scoring assisted by Aisling. 2 mins later Charlotte passed to Bernie who found the box.
Zoe ran her socks off and continued to put pressure on the oppo. Klara and Bella had some great short passing in short spaces surrounded by the oppo. POM went to Lizzie for great defensive playing.
Written by Colleen Bohm
Stormers 3 – 1 Tulse Hill & Dulwich
After a pretty lengthy schlep across south London, the boys congregated in good spirits, well rested and raring to go following the Christmas and New Year break.
In the absence of GB Stu, the mantle fell to Naylor to lead what has now become an iconic warmup process. Little did we know that our very lives and limbs would be put on the line navigating metal bollards, slippery drain covers and dangerously high kicks for a group of middle aged men. This was surely not covered by our public liability insurance.
From the whistle, It’s fair to say we were not quick out of the gates. No, this was not the “B of the bang” that Longford Christie made famous in the mid 90s but more the “T of a gentle Trot” for the first ten minutes.
Despite that and faced with a determined and technically capable oppo, the OCs did stretch the game and put pressure on their defence a number of times in the first 10-15 mins. A solid build up down the right wing led to Hauck being out of position (playing in holding midfield role!) on the byline and passing (the buck) to Naylor for a certain goal, only for their right back to literally dive in front of the ball putting his body on the line for the cause. An easy p-flick to award. CB duly dispatched as cool as a cucumber.
It was a pretty stretched and open game all round, the rest of the first half testing the new year fitness levels to the max. Tulse Hill presented a solid midfield but simply couldn’t put forward patterns together and the OCs goal remained relatively unchallenged.
10 mins later, a very cool and calm build up through the midfield, with OCs doing the easy passes well, eventually found CB 5 yards from goal with just the keeper to beat, we were soon 2-0 up. A well taken finish when it mattered and a demonstration of how it could and should be done.
The second half proved a slightly more difficult test as Tulse Hill nudged themselves back into contention with some spirited attacking play. GOALIE kept us in the game half a dozen times and had to manage a series of well drilled short corners. He rose to the challenge however as anyone would expect. A small moral victory for one Welsh vet against a familiar English 040s foe.
After a slightly freakish goal from Tulse Hill that seemingly took place at half speed we seemed to re-group and realise we could dominate the game by simply moving it around on our own terms and the legs just about held up. One final goal from CB to complete his well deserved hart-trick and the game was done.
Roll on Reading.
Goals – CB x 3
MOM – CB
Written by – Ed Hauk
Ladies 5s 1 – 0 Surbiton 9s
It was a reasonable day weather wise for our first hockey game of the year at the Club, our rescheduled match against Surbiton 9s. It looked like it was going to be a tough game with lots of young faces waiting to enter the pitch from Surbiton, but 5s equally had lots of young legs too.
We started well with a warm up chat from John Shaw, getting us fired up and ready to go!
The first 10 minutes was very much like we’d all had a bit too much fun over Christmas and it seemed harder than it should be, where the oppo managed to get 3 short corners, this very quickly focused our minds, and luckily our defence stayed strong with Nici and Carolina keeping things tight.
We settled into our stride and managed to get the ball much more in their D, lots of great passing from defence through to mid and on to the forwards. With a great spell including most of the team to set up our only goal – Ella, Lauren, Phoebe, Poppy, Nicola, Amanda, Rae all had a touch to get it to Jenny who popped it in behind the keeper!
So at half time we were 1-0 up, John gave us another focused chat that set us up for the next 35 minutes. Lots of great chances at goal, great team play and solid defence enabled us to hold the game to give us the win, a real nail biter in the last 10 minutes but we held strong with lots of gritty, determined play.
A big well done to Ella Turner voted our POM! and to Nici Goldsmith for her sterling efforts in goal, enabling us to keep a clean slate, making her our official lucky mascot, 
win rate.
Well done 5s a great start to the year!
Written by – Nicola Protasiuk
Ladies 6s 4 – 5 Teddington 6s
Sunday 7th January saw the L6s play a rescheduled game against Teddington W6. On a cold Sunday afternoon (and following a slight delay waiting for their keeper) we eventually got going and the hockey was definitely hotter than the ambient temperature. Teddington started strongly, but some great runs from Issy in midfield, supported by Louvisa and George saw OCs work the ball into attack brilliantly. Jeanette scored the first goal, this was quickly followed by Kiran sinking the ball too. OCs were 2-0 in the first quarter and looked to take control. However Teddington had other ideas, and despite some brilliant defensive efforts by Freya, Kate, Kim, Elle, Hels and Lucy, Teddington struck back with 2 break away goals. Determined to reclaim the lead, Jeanette got her second from a whole team short corner effort. 3-2 at half time – fast and furious stuff.
Despite some Jelly Baby refuelling and a great half time team talk, Teddington game out fighting – they scored 3 goals in quick succession, which slightly stunned us. OCs didn’t give up – again some great attacking play from everyone saw us claw one more back – with POM Issy finding the back board. A dramatic game finished off by a spectacular sunset…