Match report: 1st XI Hockey team vs King’s College

Last Wednesday evening, the 1st XI Hockey team played King’s College to conclude the first round of the Supercity competition. The team were defending the Birchall Shield and showed their intent early, launching several right flank attacks and controlled possession well.

The team, captained by Prefect M. J. Ready as goalie, was rewarded after three minutes of play through Form 6 student Y. R. Khushal sneaking a loose ball behind the keeper. The team continued to apply the pressure up the right, and a cross found A. M. Patel who scored in the bottom corner of the goal. Early in the second quarter, Patel scored his second goal of the match to extend the lead to 3-0.

King’s College responded by increasing the tempo of their game and had successive but unconverted penalty corners, with Ready particularly influential in goal.

After the break, Form 6 student E. M. R. O’Carroll’s skills and accuracy extended the 1st XI’s lead to 4-0 with a well-struck goal. It wasn’t until the final quarter that King’s replied through a penalty stroke with only three minutes remaining which in turn secured the 1st XI a convincing 4-1 win and the Birchall Shield for the seventh consecutive year.

Congratulations to the team and a special thanks to those in the Augusta Army who were out in force to show their support and to Master in Charge of Hockey Mr Joe Crooks for his tireless efforts with the team.