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OA Super Saturday: A Celebration of Sport and Reunions 

The annual OA Super Saturday event once again brought together past and present athletes in a fantastic display of skill, camaraderie, and competitive spirit. From the rugby field to the hockey pitch, the netball court to the cross-country course, the day was filled with thrilling encounters that showcased the talent and determination of both the college’s current squads and the returning OA teams. Support from the whole school was impressive and cheering noise level loud!

Rugby: OA Experience Triumphs Over Youth  - An OA rugby team, donning the blue and gold of the 2nd XV, faced off against the College’s 1st XV in a fast-paced and fiercely contested match. The younger side applied relentless pressure in the opening half-hour, but the OA team, featuring former 1st XV captains such as Eddie Browne (DO23), Freddie Schofield (H21), and Charlie Hill (DO24), showcased their resilience and determination. Clever handling and a tireless work ethic saw the OA side secure a 10-6 victory, with Mr. Slingsby and Mr. James lending their experience to the alumni ranks. 

Netball: A Close Battle Ends in Victory for the 1st VII  - On the netball court, the College’s 1st VII emerged victorious in a tightly fought 26-23 contest. Both sides displayed excellent skill and teamwork, but the current students managed to edge out the OA team in the final moments. The Players of the Match were Imi Ward (B15) and Occy Howard (M20), both delivering standout performances for the OA squad. 

Hockey: Dominant Displays from the 1st XI Sides  - The current 1st XI hockey teams also put on impressive performances, securing victories in both the girls' and boys' matches. 

• Girls' 1st XI: The College’s girls’ 1st XI delivered a clinical attacking performance, securing a dominant 6-0 win. Their efficiency in the final third proved too much for the OA team, who had some fun in the final ten minutes by fielding all 17 players against the College’s 11! Player of the Match for the college was Mollie, while Loyce James (B22) earned the honour for the OA side. 
• Boys' 1st XI: The boys’ fixture was an intense, high-speed encounter, with end-to-end hockey keeping spectators on the edge of their seats. The OA team defended brilliantly, with current College student Digby on loan to the OAs, in goal producing a stellar performance between the posts. However, the skill and precision of the 1st XI boys proved decisive, securing a 2-0 victory. The Players of the Match were Justus for the College and Joe Mitchell (H21) for the Old Amplefordians. 

Cross Country: College Runners Claim Victory on the Famous Course  - The cross-country race saw College take a well-earned victory, winning with a score of 48-87 over the OA team. The challenging Senior A course (7km), featuring the iconic Park House Hill, provided a true test of endurance for all runners. Rory Henderson (O00), Will Lyon Tupman (D14), and Lawrence Brennan (E91) were the first three home for the OAs, putting in strong performances. It was also fantastic to see Jack Baxter (C23) and Jack Fletcher (C23) join a diverse group of runners spanning multiple generations, embodying the true spirit of the event. 

Golf: College Cruises to Victory Over Rusty OAs  - The College team put on a dominant performance on the golf course, securing a 4-0 victory against a somewhat rusty OA side. The highlight of the day was Kester Scrope (E88) being humbled by his own son, while Sam Le Gassicke(C09) was outplayed by an impressive Remove pair who dovetailed brilliantly. Joe Wright (C19) battled hard but suffered a narrow loss against the college’s first pair and Master of Golf, Hugh Ainscough (H09), mounted a late fightback but heartbreakingly missed a short putt on the last hole to halve his match. A standout performance came from Nicko, who consistently bombed his new Stealth driver with pinpoint accuracy, setting the tone for the college’s commanding win. 

Football: Old Ampleforidans Claim 9-3 Victory in Entertaining Clash - The Old Amplefordians secured their first win in three attempts with a dominant 9-3 performance. A first-half hat-trick from Orlando Hill (H15) helped the OAs race to a five-goal lead, though the College side fought back with three second-half goals. The Harley brothers were key—Max (C18) commanding at the back, including a stunning trivella pass to Hugo (C22), who was a constant attacking threat. Wingers Nikita Lacroix (DO23) and Hippolyte Franchi (C23) put in tireless shifts, with Hippo scoring a brilliant top-corner strike. Up front for SHAC, Hugo tormented the OA defense, capping his display with a composed finish. A lighter moment came as Charles Deacy (H18) conceded a penalty for a clear handball, only for the spot-kick to go over the bar. The match also saw a rare Deacy vs. Deacy showdown. With leavers ranging from 2009 to 2023, the game highlighted the Old Amplefordian community’s depth. The team hopes to welcome some opponents into their ranks in the future.

The overall score was 5 - 2 to College. There's absolutely no doubt that the Old Amplefordians will be back in 2026 for a rematch fixture and will once again enjoy retiring to The Windmill for post match pints!