BU18 Vikings Lose Tight Semi Final

BU18 Vikings 2 - 3 Repton BU18 (H)

England Hockey Boys U18 Tier 1 Cup Semi Final

The Boys U18 Vikings lost out to a strong Repton U18 side in a pulsating, high quality semi final. The boys welcomed back Olly B to the side: his dad was particularly grateful to return to Sugden Road as he tucked into some pre-game sausage and chips having roasted one of his elder son's Uni teammates - it's the school of hard knocks under Oxted management.

To the hockey - Repton pressed hard and were in the ascendancy in the first 15 minutes. Two powerful drag flicks, one stick side, the other pads side saw the visitors take a 2-0 lead. As the game wore on Lars put his stamp on proceedings with his ability to find space and play forward from centre midfield. Ollie S passed well and look to find the livewire that is Haspel W - fresh off a goal scoring purple patch with the Men's 2s. But it was Olly B who struck from a PC to bring it back to 2-1. 

And then (minor) controversy. When old soaks bemoan the self pass rule and think "be careful to kick the ball/use the back of your stick if you are not actually taking the free hit" - maybe they have a point - a touch on the stick from a Repton player, and Haspel W, learning from numerous mentors in the Men's 2s about 'playing on the edge', stole the ball like a thieving magpie and with a bit of a shuffle-style spin, rolled the ball into the bottom corner. 

And then some minor controversy/non controversy. A Repton striker protected the ball at the top of the D and was then on the receiving end of a "determined " challenge... the howls emanating from the visiting support quickly subsided as ("and play"), another Repton player took advantage of the loose ball and drilled a worldie tomahawk into the rigging, giving the visitors a 3-2 lead.

The Repton keeper and classy centre back managed to repel the home side's attacks and take a well deserved place in the U18 Cup final.