1st XI v RGS Guildford
On: Tuesday 12 January
Result: Won 2-1
The 1st XI battled to victory in a very tight cup fixture against Ardingly College in the England Hockey Boys’s Schools Cup Round 1. Early in the match Charterhouse fought off a series of attacks from the home side and struggled to find any rhythm going forward, but solid defence from Walton, Cox, Margarson, Harris and Taylor at the back kept the score at 0-0. As the half progressed Charterhouse started to pass the ball more effectively with Cox and Peplow combining well down the right. Both sides won short corners and Matthew Yiadom went close seconds before Ardingly counter attacked and scored in the final seconds of the first half.
Both sides played much better hockey in the second half and the Charterhouse forward line began to put pressure on the Ardingly back four. The equaliser came from one of these turnovers as Hatrick won the ball at left midfield and combined well with Russell-Jones before the ball spilt to Matthew to finish on the back post. The rest of the game saw both sides have chances and only a sequence of great saves by Kareem and the Ardingly keeper kept the scores level. The deciding goal came with just four minutes left on the clock when Charterhouse won a short corner and Russell-Jones’ strike was brilliantly deflected in at the far post by Christian Peplow. Ardingly were kept at bay for the last four minutes giving Charterhouse a hard-earned victory.