d'Overbroeck's College Oxford

Tuesday 12th December saw a number of foolhardy staff trooping up to the astroturf of Oxford Brookes for the ritual annual battle between staff and students. First up was hockey, and the bad news for the staff was that our star player James Messer was going to be refereeing. The game started in the vein it was to continue with spirited attacks by the students, led by Tom Savage a demon on the pitch, pegging the staff back in their own half. The onslaught was unending, and although the staff made a few breakaway attacks, our most active player was Jonny, who made numerous saves to keep us in the game. Eventually something had to give, and a vicious rising strike by Tom Savage from about 10 yards out gave the students the (much deserved) lead. After that the staff were chasing the game, and did manage to get the ball through to Paul Baily, the sole striker (and Head of Physics), but tiring legs meant that support was lacking, and the staff were hit on the counter late on to concede a second goal. The spirit was excellent throughout, the students not put off by the rather wildly brandished sticks of the more inexperienced staff players. A fair result with only a small amount of student gloating!

The Hockey was followed immediately by soccer, with a number of the braver (foolhardy?) souls from both sides playing in both games. The staff had a much stronger side for football than for hockey, with a strong spine to the team, and early on the students were surprised by the well organised staff game. For most of the first half the students were under continual pressure, and the staff created a number of chances, some excellent, which somehow didn't find the back of the net. Half-time saw a number of substitutions and the students came out much stronger in the second half, which proved to be a mirror image of the first, with only occasional breakouts by the staff. In the end though, the students too were unable to convert their chances, so 0-0 at full time meant penalties. After 5 by each side, deadlock still ensued, but was finally broken by the students in sudden death, to make a clean sweep of both the Hockey and the soccer; vengeance has been vowed, and we are going to organise rematches in the New Year.

Simon Harrison, Head of Economics