Rugby
Chairman's XV 36 v President's XV 29
A chilly afternoon greeted the players in this annual run out for the Old Boys.
The usual fast flowing, running rugby was played, although there was some seriously heavy breathing after the first few minutes of the game! The referee Mike Barnett did his best to keep up, but was seriously blowing!
A brisk start from the President's XV saw them race into a 12-0 lead with tries from Anthony Cadman and Matt Munday. This was however about as good as it got as the Chairman's XV fought back with scores from Mike Allewell, Oli Wolfenden and Oli Szymanski to lead 17-12 at half time.
"A good fun game"
After the break the Chairman's team realised that in Dan Nulty they had the fastest player on the field and finally decided to give him some quick ball. He proceeded to ruin the game by scoring 4 tries in quick time and spoil everybody's fun.
Replies were posted by Sam Booth but it was too little too late. It was a good fun game for all involved and Dan Nulty was quite rightly awarded Man of the Match.
Read more about the OGA Rugby Team here>>
The teams:
Chairman's XV: Mike Allewell, Dan Baines, Rick Emmott, Richard Graves, Dan Gullick, Rhodri Jones, Phil Moffatt, Dan Nulty, James Phillips, Tim Rawlins, Sam Robinson, Oliver Szymanski, Matthew Williams, Oliver Wolfenden.
President's XV: Sam Booth, Anthony Cadman, Kevin Eaglestone, Tim Heaton, Mike Jeffries (guest), Kevin Jones, Dan Kondras, Matt Munday, Oli Nicholls, John Oakes, James Poll, Jonathan Sykes, Shaun Van Pragh, Adam Weaving.
Netball
What a superb turnout of Old Grovians netballers on Old Grovians Day in November, 16 in total and many still playing for a club or university.
The first quarter began with school taking the lead and showing some excellent court play and circle work.
They were ahead 10-6 at the end of the first quarter, but due to the large number playing, the OG's were able to put fresh legs on the court, changing most of the players. The OG's soon started to pull back into the game, with the defence players in the OG team putting pressure on the school shooters and at half time the OG's were 1 ahead, 14-13.
School team depleted due to injuries
School did not have any substitutes due to injury and unavailability therefore the full first team squad was depleted, however all 7 players worked extremely hard and gave the OG's plenty to work for.
Three minutes into the third quarter school's Goal Attack went down with an ankle injury and had to retire.
Luckily a second team player was spotted on the viewing gallery and quickly changed into team kit to enable school to play on. School then rallied round and led by 1 goal at the end of that quarter, 22-21.
The OG's by now realised that victory was in sight if they put pressure on and showed their years of netball experience.
Off court support for OGs "tremendous"
The game, although still being played in the spirit it was intended, took on an even more competitive edge.
The off court support from the OG squad was tremendous as they encouraged their players on court to lift their game. Soon the OG's edged ahead and ended with a flourish of goals finishing what was a superb game of netball by winning 31-26.
Finally a plea to OG players from the past - the original trophy has gone astray so if anyone knows its whereabouts please let us know!! Send us an email by
Old Grovians playing were: Sally Robinson (captain), Sam Cadman (nee Wright), Gemma Croxen, Harriet Dobbs, Ekta Elston (nee Patel), Emma Humphreys, Lorna Hurst, Laura Hutchinson, Rebecca Ives, Helen Milnes, Laura Nulty, Jo Saunders (nee Cadman) Player of the Match, Lindsey Sowden (nee Trousdale), Georgina Starkey, Helen Vincent, Gemma Wilkinson.