CUMHC End of Season Review 24-25

CUMHC End of Season Review

In Short: 4 Varsity Wins, 3 League Promotions, 2 many goals scored by Freddie MJ, 1 too many silly freshers.

CUMHC League Performances

The 2024-25 season was exceptional for CUHC, achieving promotions for three of its four teams.

First up, the Blunderers, captained by goalkeeper Adam Harris, secured promotion from North-West Division 4. After narrowly missing out by just two points last season, the team was notably strengthened by an impressive intake of freshers, particularly Samir Ahmad, who received the Player of the Season award alongside second-year Riley Aumonier. They comfortably finished second in the league, six points clear of third place, advancing to Division 3.

Simultaneously, the Squanderers secured promotion from Division 3 after an intense battle with City of Peterborough 4s (COP 4s). Promotion hinged on a thrilling game, where the team overcame a 2-0 half-time deficit to win 3-2 against COP 4s. This victory returns them to Division 2 North-West, reducing the divisional gap with the Wanderers, who compete in Division 1. The Squanderers' successful season marks the end of leadership by Finn Dovey and the departure of 2024-25 Men's Club Captain and DOD of the Season (in a heavily contested year), Benjamin Lewis, after three years with the club.

The Wanderers, led by 2025-26 president-elect Connor Singleton and vice-captain Sam Pritchard, showed considerable improvement. Although promotion eluded them, the team significantly enhanced their league position, finishing fifth. Standout performances came from Freddie McElwaine-Johnn, whose bullet-like drag flicks secured pivotal victories against UEA 1s (4th) and Cambridge HC 1s (6th), earning him Player of the Season and Top Scorer honours.

The Men's Blues delivered a remarkable season under Will Laird’s leadership. They dominated Division 1, achieving an unbeaten run of 22 consecutive victories and an extraordinary goal difference of +144—averaging 6.5 goal-difference per game. Their BUCS league campaign was similarly impressive, winning all but two games (one draw, one loss). This phenomenal feat is particularly notable given the squad’s high number of freshers, all maintaining a strong commitment to Friday nights at nightclub Mash—one even going as far as getting his passport Mash stamped. Their outstanding performance sees them promoted back to the East League Premiership, with strong aspirations for advancement to the National League next season.

This success places CUHC teams in successive divisions from the Premiership downwards in the East Leagues for the first time since the Blunderers' formation. This significant achievement highlights the club’s overall growth and the successful integration of the Blunderers over the past four years. Combined with victories in all four Varsity matches, this has been one of the most successful seasons in recent club history—according to ex-Wanderers Captain and Club Captain, sixth-year club veteran Sam Pritchard.

Special thanks for this successful season go to captains Adam Harris, Finn Dovey, Connor Singleton, and Will Laird, supported by their coaches, President Serena Cole, and Club Captain Ben Lewis. The club is already actively preparing for another strong pre-season, laying the groundwork for an equally impressive 2025-26 season.

Ossian Finch (3rd Year Natural Sciences, Sidney Sussex, Men’s Club Captain and Wanderers Co-Captain 2025-2026)

CUMHC Varsity Match Reports

CUHC Blunderers 2-1 OUHC Sporadics.The second game of the day saw the Men’s 4s battle it out, coached by Wanderers Luke Poulston and Freddie Arbuthnott. A penalty stroke before half time from Matt Vennard saw the Blundies go into halftime 1-0 up, before a well-taken winner late into the game from fresher Jamie Carruthers led the boys to their first varsity win since 2019. Captain Adam Harris was a rock in goal, not giving the Spos a chance, and a great team performance from all highlighted the strength of the club this year.

CUHC Squanderers 2-0 OUHC. Infrequents After a tough defeat last year at Iffley Road, the Squandies were seeking revenge. A tough training plan of breaking the drinking ban had Finn Dovey’s boys in light blue ready and raring for the fixture. Fresher Ben James scored a wondergoal before the break, leaving it 1-0 to the good at half time. Midway through the second half, James McKinlay-Smith finished off a liquid team move after Will Rowlands bundled through the Oxford defence to make it 2-0, before the boys’ rock-solid defence held on to preserve the two goal advantage. The full-time whistle sent the crowd into delirium as the beloved Squandies reclaimed the Varsity title from the Is.

CUHC Wanderers 2-2 OUHC Occasionals (5-4 on shuffles). Captain Connor Singleton led the boys out in the final match of BDotY, under the Wilby floodlights, in front of a packed crowd. A cagey affair saw the score at 0-0 at half time, having seen Freddie McElwaine-Johnn go close by crashing two drag flicks into the crossbar. The Os scored after the break, before Freddie finally put one away to bring the score level. Another Oxford goal required Callum Wolvers to neatly score from a penalty stroke with five minutes to go. To penalty shuffles it went. Heroics from goalkeeper Ossian Finch and some good finishes from the Wandies, including the winner from Andi Kapounek, saw the boys in light blue bring home the win and seal a 5-1 win for Cambridge on the day.

CUHC Men’s Blues 3-0 OUHC Men’s Blues. Having lost 1-0 in a narrow contest last year and witnessed the WBlues lose on penalty shuffles earlier in the afternoon, captain Will Laird led his team out for revenge in the Southgate sun. A team of only four returning blues was excited to play against some quality opposition, having spent their Saturdays trouncing farmers in the England Hockey East Leagues. Theo Flanagan opened the scoring in the second quarter for the boys with a fantastic reverse into the roof of the net, before fresher Joe Conway put away a tidy deflection to double the lead before half time. Player of the match Calum Brown ran half the pitch and scored a tomahawk (reverse hit) into the far corner to seal a dominant performance for the boys in light blue to complete the 4-peat for the Men’s sides. 

Will Stubbs (3rd Economics, Fitzwilliam, Social Media Secretary 2024-25)