In the first of 3 matches against Cambridge University’s St Catherine’s College during the past week, the Men won an open game 8-4. The U18s followed this on Wednesday and Thursday with two very evenly matched games, winning 4-3 and 3-1.

Yesterday evening it was the Ladies turn to play a visiting U18 team from Gloucester, drawing 0-0.

In this afternoon’s league match, the Men hosted Sport Club. After going 0-2 down, Casuals pulled back a goal shortly before the interval. However, despite chances for both sides, Sport scored the only goal of an otherwise even second half, to win 3-1.

The Veterans travelled north this weekend to play the Oporto Club in their two annual cup games. In yesterday’s Dawson Cup men’s match, Casuals opened the scoring early on. Despite keeping up the pressure and being awarded a series of penalty corners, outstanding saves from the Oporto keeper and a shot off the post kept the visitors’ lead to 1-0. It seemed that Oporto’s dogged defense would pay off, when they equalised from a counter attack late in the game. But the Casuals still had time to make it 2-1 from another penalty corner.

Today’s Mixed match for the Seadon Cup was a more even encounter. A good strike from an early penalty corner was to prove Casuals’ only goal: with both sides finding it difficult to create scoring chances, it was Oporto who found an equaliser 2 minutes from the end. But the 1-1 draw left both trophies in the Casuals’ hands. It is worth mentioning the fine hospitality Oporto provided on the Saturday evening, and the excellent spirit in which both games were played.

The Casuals played two games against the strong German Ladies team ‘An der Alster’. In Thursday’s game, the Men were simply too strong, running out 8-0 winners. But in yesterday’s game, the U-18s had to work hard after going a goal down early on. In a very even match, both sides put their opponents’ defence under prolonged pressure, but it was the Casuals who made the most of their chances, winning the game 3-2.

Today the Men travelled to Porto for their league fixture against Viso. Casuals more than matched their opponents in the first half and were unlucky to go a goal down before the break, when the ball clearly seemed to have touched the striker’s foot. But for some of the U18 players this was their 3rd game in a row, and in the second half Viso took advantage of a couple of midfield turnovers to go 3-0 up. Casuals scored near the end of the game, but still went down 1-3.

At the Veterans Tournament this afternoon, the Casuals lost both their matches 2-5 against Belenenses and 0-1 against Futebol Benfica.

The U18s travelled north for two league matches this weekend. In yesterday’s game against CAMIR, they took control quickly and, after opening the scoring with a cracking backhand drive from just inside the circle, they were 4 goals up in the first 10 minutes.  It was then only a question of how wide the winning margin would be, and they won the game 10-1.

After an overnight stay near Porto they arrived at Viso, only to find that they were awarded a walk-over, as their opponents could not field a full side. They lent Viso 3 players for a practice game, which Casuals also won 3-2.

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