2012 – 2013
Officers: Men’s Captain Daniel Geer; Women’s Captain Rebecca Bibb
Men’s and Mixed Hockey
Following last season’s promotion from the fourth division the sights of Q.C.H.C. were set on promotion to the second division. A series of strong early season performances, including victories against Osler, Wadham and Balliol led to a critical match against Merton-Mansfield which would decide the third division title. Despite a 3-1 defeat, Queen’s secured promotion to division two, courtesy of the many goals scored in the earlier games, notably by fresher Bertie O’Brien who scored in almost every game he played.
In the second half of the season the team’s performance reached its peak and victories against Jesus, Worcester, and Merton-Mansfield as well as a draw with Exeter secured promotion before the second title-decider of the season against New. Despite lacking a number of players, the game was fiercely contested by Queen’s and there was no disgrace in losing 2-1 to a very strong side. Queen’s finished second for the third time in three years and once again secured promotion, this time to the top division.
Men’s Cuppers proved to be a disappointment. Frustratingly, Queen’s was eliminated on penalty flicks after drawing 2-2 with St Anne’s/Somerville. Mixed Cuppers on the other hand proved to be much more successful and, following a bye in the first round, Queen’s comfortably saw off a strong Univ. side, which had only narrowly lost in the men’s Cuppers final. The quarter-finals provided a sterner challenge in which Keble, despite an excellent performance from all the Queen’s players, proved too strong and won 5-1.
Starting in the top division for the first time in many years is a great incentive to those remaining and, hopefully, some talented freshers to replace those leaving, Tom Mead, Jonah Miller, Ed Potts and Josh Turner, who provided invaluable service to the team.
Women’s Hockey
Once again Queen’s, like many other colleges, was unable to produce a full team on a regular basis and combined with St Hilda’s for league matches and Cuppers. The team had a very successful season, winning all of its games in the first division with the exception of that against the St Edmund Hall/Keble side. In Cuppers the team reached the final with comfortable victories but faced its only conquerors in the final. A superb fighting performance produced a victory by three goals to one by the Queen’s/St Hilda’s side, which contained a majority of Queen’s players, most notably Sophia Kinally and Emma Papworth in midfield, and Anna Booth, Julia Megone and Clare Webb in defence.