Old Loughtonians Men’s 1s completed their season away at Sevenoaks on Sunday. With only 13 players available to travel, Loughts knew they would face a tough match against a Sevenoaks team seeking to avenge their loss at Luxborough Lane. Not for the first time this season Loughts started tentatively and found themselves 3-0 down by half time. Loughts however once again saved their best until the final quarter. Inspired by manager Gerry Smith, at his last match in charge after over ten years, Captain Conor Caplan opened the scoring with 15 minutes to go. Ex Sevenoaks player James Thomas added a second three minutes later on his return to Hollybush Lane and Tom Watson completed the comeback with a third from a penalty corner with two minutes to go. Loughts could and should have taken all three points. Sevenoaks keeper Rory Mylori made a fabulous save to deny Euan Gilmour from scoring a penalty flick and Loughts hit the bar with a minute left. Despite dropping two points Loughts finish runners up in division 1 South of the National league won by near neighbours Southgate.

On Saturday the Women’s 2s concluded their successful consolidation season in division 1 south after promotion last year with a comfortable 3-0 win against St Albans 3s. Captain Laura Blatter opened the scoring after only 2 minutes and Siobhan Daley made it 2-0 on 22. Agnes Briscoe added a third just before half time.

The W3s played some of their best hockey of the season away against a good Basildon 3s side still in contention for promotion. Jess Donnelly scored twice and Aoife Foskett completed the scoring in a 3-2 win. Alice Rowlands was outstanding for the second week running as man of the match. Next week the W3s play Braintree 1s in the division title decider.

The W4s drew 1-1 with Chelmsford 5s and the W5s lost 1-0 to Havering 3s.

The M2s match against champions Ipswich 1s was postponed but the team will finish third in the East premier division. A great result in a division full of first teams after promotion last year. The M3s travelled to second placed St Albans 2s knowing that they needed a point at least to secure their place in division 1 South. The match ended 0-0 and with four teams on 25 points Loughts’ superior goal difference secured safety. The M4s and M5s both played 1st teams and both won. The M4s beat Thurrock 2-0 and the M5s Willows won 3-2 away at Tendring with goals from Luke Bennett, Daniel Clark and Akram Khan. The M6s Willows Woodsmen lost 5-0 away against Brentwood Academy and the M7s Willows Rangers lost 3-1 in the local derby against Crostyx 4s. Rehan Sheikh scored for Loughts. The M8s Willows Axemen won 2-1 against Old Southendians 6s with goals from Ijaz Rajput and Manu Bhardwaj.

The under 18 boys were in Nottingham on Sunday for the final of the England Hockey Tier 1 Cup against Repton. Repton started strongly and were 1-0 up at half time. Loughts responded well and Archie Crowley equalised with half an hour to play. Both teams had excellent attempts to score but Loughts could not convert their chances and Repton capitalised twice to win 3-1 in a high quality match. This was a disappointing end to the season for the boys who were also pipped in the final of the National indoor championship. This group of boys has not only had a fabulous season but has achieved great success at the club from under 12s onwards and is the exciting future of the club when the friends return from university.