A great day for sports and catching up with old friends and teachers at the School. It was wonderful to welcome back so many Old Cats to play hockey, netball and basketball with parents and friends to cheer the sides. This year the parents’ ‘Back to Netball’ group joined in the tournament, and with so many Old Cats returning for hockey, we fielded two matches including ‘Gold Cats’ v Recent Leavers.

 

Netball Report
Sunday 25th February saw the ‘Old NetCats’ return to the court to take on the current 1st Team NetCats and the Back 2 Netball NetCats. The three teams entered into a tough fought triangular with the Old Cats coming out on top with a total of 41-32 on goal difference versus the 1st VII.

The Old Cats Team comprised of recent leavers from 2023 through to leavers from 2016. With Ronnie, Ellie and Rhianna returning back from Uni to take to the court scooping up all the rebounds and precision shooting dominating in the circles. 1st VII players Lucy and Sienna putting Georgie and Ria to the test in mid-court with their super quick changes of direction but deep drives to the pocket and down court vision allowed the Old Cats efficient transitions through the court ending with an easy ball in to Katie to finish with a goal every time.

The Back 2 Netball Team proved their skills putting up a strong challenge to both the 1st VII and Old Cats.

Thank you to everybody that came to play and support! Was awesome to see so many people from school days.

 

Hockey Report
Caterham School welcomed back a multi-generational squad of Old Cats for the annual contest; including a cohort of recent leavers and a seasoned nucleus of more weathered old cats.

Inspired by a rendition of “the boys are back in town” blasting through his aux on the drive down Harestone Valley Road, the mercurial James Foggin led the old cats to an extensive warm up. Tension was palpable as the first XI arrived for push back.

Once the match commenced, the well oiled first XI found themselves dominating possession and forced an early own goal via the stick of Harvey New. The Old Cats pushed back strong however, and the pre-match (two minute) short corner practice paid dividends with a deserved equaliser.

Honours even at half time, the game was finely poised.

The second half had a frenetic start. Alex Peet’s very existence nearly peaked with an attempted overhead volley, whilst Isaac Quinton overcame attempted assault on one of many dangerous attacks. A miscalculated flurry of substitutes led to 12 Old Cats on the pitch for much of the second half, but even dishonourable tactics couldn’t halt the first XI as they charged to a 3-1 lead. A few individual defensive performances from Dan Castle and Ryan Dale in particular kept the old cats within distance – when finally a breakaway emerged. James Foggin, whose performance otherwise questioned his self-proclaimed ability, captivated the crowd with a well struck equaliser to leave the game on knife’s edge.

The old cats needed one last chance to equalise, which happened…

A scintillating breakaway led to Charlie Hammond producing a pinpoint cross to a recent leaver at the back post. Unfortunately, with all the goal to aim for an astonishing miss was produced. Fortunately the recent leaver’s identity will remain unwritten to save any embarrassment and after he was swiftly substituted.

Despite a valiant final push, the whistle sounded to mark a 3-2 win for the current first XI. Overall, the day was a fantastic spectacle hugely enjoyed by all. Enormous thanks must go to Mr Patterson for seamlessly organising all aspects of the day. We look forward to next year and welcoming leavers with more OCs coming back each time! It was honestly great to see so many faces from school days who took part in the Netball and Basketball as well.

 

Basketball Report
The basketball match between the OCs and the school was a thrilling and tightly fought contest that had spectators on the edge of their seats. Led by the dynamic leadership of Sihu Jung, the OCs team showcased a combination of seasoned experience and raw talent, stunning their opponents with their flair and skill, and seizing an unexpected lead during the initial stages of the game. However, as the match progressed, it became apparent that the school team’s superior conditioning and relentless determination would not be easily overcome.

With the halftime break providing an opportunity to regroup and refocus, the school team emerged revitalized, gradually narrowing the gap on the scoreboard. Despite the OCs’ valiant efforts, the school team’s relentless pressure ultimately proved too much to handle, as they surged ahead in the final moments to secure a hard-fought 48-42 victory, leaving both teams and spectators alike with a memorable display of competitive spirit and athleticism.