The 2024/25 season kicked off in style for Old Georgians Hockey Club, with a full slate of matches across the men's, women's, and junior divisions.

The Men's 1XI delivered a resounding victory to begin their title defence, while the Ladies 1XI faced a difficult home opener. There were notable performances throughout the club, with plenty of drama and excitement to set the tone for the season. Here's how the opening weekend unfolded:
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Men's 1XI Power to 6-1 Victory Over Bowdon

Old Georgians Men's 1XI launched their title defence with a dominant 6-1 victory away at Bowdon. The champions took control from the outset, with Tom Carson and Sam Ward bagging two goals, while Alan Forsyth and debutant David Condon added their names to the scoresheet.

Bowdon's sole goal came from Steven Halfhead, but the result was never in question as Old Georgians dictated the tempo from start to finish. This impressive win sets the tone for the season, as OGs aim to secure a historic fourth consecutive league title.

Coach's Remarks: "It was a fair start for us; it was always going to be difficult away at Bowdon for our first game of the season with our new look group. It's not an easy place to go with their home support, and Si Egerton has them set up well. They made the first half difficult for us, but we reached a much better place in the second. We took some good strides forward as a group as we continue to learn our game." - Ashley Jackson.
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Ladies 1XI Fall to Old Loughtonians in National League

The Old Georgians Ladies 1XI had a tough opening fixture in the Women's Conference East, suffering a 1-3 defeat to Old Loughtonians. This marked their first loss to the visitors in the National League, having won both matchups last season. Despite a goal from Zoe Shepard, the team struggled to break down a well-drilled Old Loughtonians side, who came determined to flip last year's results.

Now led by new coach Leigh Maasdorp and assisted by former Great Britain international Leah Wilkinson, the team will be eager to bounce back and build on their promising debut season in the National League.

Captain's Insight: "Of course, it's disappointing, especially after beating them last season, but we'll regroup and come back stronger for the next match." – Gemma Doran

Men's 2XI Game Postponed

The Men's 2XI match against Old Williamsonians in the South East Men's Premier Division was postponed due to issues with pitch availability for the home side. The game will be rescheduled, giving the team extra preparation time for their next fixture.

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Men's 3XI Begin with Solid 2-0 Win Against Horsham

The Men's 3XI got their season off to a flying start with a 2-0 victory over Horsham in the South East Men's Division 1 West. Goals from Jack Whitelock and Freddie Scott Gall sealed the win in a physical contest, with the team showing resilience and determination to secure a clean sheet.

This early victory will provide a strong foundation for the team to build on in the coming weeks.
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Men’s 4XI Edge Out Camberley & Farnborough in 3-2 Thriller

In an exciting match, the Men's 4XI claimed a 3-2 victory over Camberley & Farnborough in the South East Men's Division 1 Oaks. Liam Galvin led the charge with two goals, while Dan Greayer-Smith added the third. It was a closely contested affair, but OGs held their nerve to secure all three points.

This result could be the beginning of a promising campaign for the 4XI, who will look to build momentum from this hard-fought win.
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Masters Teams Share the Points

The Men's O40 Fire and Men's O50 Phoenix teams played out 1-1 draws in their respective matches. The O40s tied with Guildford Pilgrims, with Andrew O'Sullivan scoring for OGs, while the O50s drew with Tulse Hill & Dulwich Musketeers, with Tom Owen on target.
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Ladies 2XI Draw 3-3 in a Hard-Fought Match Against Guildford.

The Ladies 2XI were involved in a thrilling 3-3 draw away at Guildford in the South East Women's Division 1 West. Goals from Paula Ashall, Kate McNab, and Charlotte Graham put OGs in the driver's seat, but Guildford equalised through a penalty corner after full-time.

While the finish was frustrating, the team showed plenty of promise and will be looking to turn performances like this into wins as the season progresses.

Coach's View: "It's always tough to concede after the final whistle, but the team showed real fight, and we'll only get stronger from here." – Jade Bloomfield
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Ladies 3XI Narrowly Beaten by Reigate Priory.

The Ladies 3XI were unlucky to lose 0-1 against Reigate Priory in the South East Women's Division 1 Oaks. Despite dominating much of the play, OGs couldn't find the breakthrough, with a solitary goal from Reigate proving decisive.
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Ladies 4XI, Start Strong with a 4-2 Win Over Epsom.

The Ladies 4XI opened their season with a superb 4-2 victory against Epsom in the South East Women's Division 2 Oaks. Goals from Shannon Nell, Darcey Donovan, Megan Coe, and a team goal capped a commanding performance from the squad, giving them plenty of confidence heading into their next fixture.
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Weekend Round-Up:

The opening weekend provided plenty of excitement for Old Georgians Hockey Club, with standout performances across the board. The Men's 1XI set the tone with a comprehensive win, while the Ladies 2XI fought out an entertaining draw. Despite the Ladies 1XI suffering a setback, the season is still young, and there's plenty to build on.

Final Results:

• Men's 1XI: Bowdon 1-6 Old Georgians (Steven Halfhead for Bowdon)
• Men's 2XI: Postponed (Old Williamsonians vs Old Georgians)
• Men's 3XI: Old Georgians 2-0 Horsham
• Men's 4XI: Camberley & Farnborough 2-3 Old Georgians
• Men's O40 Fire: Guildford Pilgrims 1-1 Old Georgians Fire
• Men's O50 Phoenix: Old Georgians 1-1 Tulse Hill & Dulwich Musketeers
• Ladies 1XI: Old Georgians 1-3 Old Loughtonians
• Ladies 2XI: Guildford 3-3 Old Georgians
• Ladies 3XI: Old Georgians 0-1 Reigate Priory
• Ladies 4XI: Old Georgians 4-2 Epsom
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There's plenty more action to come, with all teams eager to build on their opening performances. Stay tuned for next weekend's fixtures!

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