The OCHC have continued their run of recent successes with the men’s 1st XI gaining promotion to the National League for the first time, as well as reaching the quarter-final of the EH Cup after beating a heavily-funded Old Georgians side on the way in front of a bumper crowd at Thames Ditton. The club continues to expand and since Christmas have launched a seventh men’s and a fifth ladies side; the minis section is thriving with long waiting lists and three different sites now in use on Sundays and almost two dozen girls and boys sides across all the ages now taking part in competitions.
The OCRFC 1st XV have found the going in London South West 2 tough but good back-to-back wins in February should have secured our safety for another season. The rugby colts grows apace and the expanded facility at Weston Green Sports Club is now fully utilised.
The OC squash side reached the semi-finals of the plate competition of the Londonderry Cup before going down 3-2 to Old Salopians. It is our hope that the delayed opening of the new squash courts at the School will trigger an influx of new talent …
The annual Tom Wheeler XI v Cranleigh 4th XI football match took place last month and produced a nailbiting 4-4 draw, with veteran Andy Houston (Cubitt, 2001) curling in a 30-yard free kick (45 yards by his estimation) with the last kick of the game, triggering a rather untypically gleeful celebration.
In rugby, Sam Arnold (East, 2014) won a full cap for Ireland in the autumn internationals, while Jamie Barden (Cubitt, 2018) made his debut for the England Sevens side during the Las Vegas leg of the HSBC World Sevens,
In hockey, Izzy Petter (South, 2018) has been selected in the full hockey England side for their international against Ireland later this month. If she does play then she will be the first OC girl to win a full cap. Will Calnan (Cubitt 2014) and James Gall (Cubitt, 2013) were both in the England side which reached the semi-finals hockey’s World Cup in India, and a number of other recent leavers are playing in the premier divisions of the National League.
At the School, the girls Under 18s won the national indoor title in January while in rugby the Sevens side won the Hampton Sevens after defeats in the final for the last three years, and over Long Leave, the cricketers toured Sri Lanka.
Will Trenholm has been picked for England U18s for the first time, while Hayden Hyde is again representing Ireland U19s.
A final word about fives which is enjoying a resurgence under the enthusiastic stewardship of Tom Constable. It is hoped the first OC v School match for many years will take place next term