The last two terms have seen women’s and men’s hockey contested individually, with Catz winning the league-cuppers double. In Trinity the competition has continued with mixed cuppers.
Saturday saw the two semi-finals being fought out between Catz and Keble and then Teddy Hall and Worcester. Catz took their semi-final. Keble, in what turned out to be their last match under outgoing captain Vyas Adhikari, went ahead early on, but goals from Chris Lambert and James Arch pulled it back for the Manor Road team. Kat Kaltsas eventually scored the winner for Catz in extra time.
In the final, Teddy Hall, who had beaten Worcester, took the lead quickly, stunning a previously calm Catz, who then lifted themselves to the level of the day. Lofted balls from Ben Thomas and dribbling skills by James Arch now took centre stage, with Arch soon equalising. Each side scored again before the end of the half, as Arch contued to dominate.
At the beginning of the new period the Hall were too much for Catz to deal with and poached a quick goal. But Thomas managed to equalise, dragging Catz back into the equation, with the score now at 3-3. With five minutes left the players, now fatigued, were clearly dreading another extended period of play, and both teams strived eagerly to score the winner.
In the last two minutes Catz managed to capitalise on a break, from a run by Arch, and Lambert slammed it in from close range. The keeper got a hand to it, but unluckily for him the ball bobbled over him into the goal. All that followed was a nervous minute or two for the Catz fans, as the Hall continued to press until the bitter end. As the last minute approached, realisation struck, and all the team pushed forward. The hotly contested match finished 4-3, and Catz’ treble was secured.
