7 minute read
Old Pauline Sport
Old Pauline Cricket Club
A full league season returned in 2021 after the shortened seven match Challenge Cup of the year before. It brought a similar season for both 1st and 2nd XIs, with both teams registering some stunning victories but ultimately struggling to string together enough momentum to challenge for the top of the table, finishing 8th and 6th respectively. Both teams will continue to fight it out in Surrey Championship Division 4 next year.
Sam Cato (2006-11) topped the runs aggregate for the club, including a truly remarkable 135 not out in a successful chase of 207/8. With the ball it was 1st XI skipper Chris Berkett (2005-10) who led the way with a personal best 35 league wickets in the season. 2021 also signalled the end of OP legend Alex Duncan’s (1993-98) league career, as the opener hung up his boots with a phenomenal 9233 runs behind him.
Looking ahead to the 2022 season, we have several changings of the guard as George Waugh, 2nd XI skipper since 2017, is moving north and will be replaced in the position by Jack Turner (2008-13). For the first time in several years OPCC will be fielding a 3rd XI, with Henry Dodd (2001-06) stepping up to the plate to lead the side. This creates a fantastic opportunity to recruit some new players and continue our journey to competing at a higher level across the teams. Charlie Malston (1995-2000) will lead the Sunday XI, after Jamie Lyons’ (1974-79) marathon tenure came to an end. We thank all those individuals who are stepping down for all their incredible effort over the years.
The club is due to begin nets this month ahead of a pre-season involving the annual match against the School 1st XI, always an excellent curtain raiser for the full season. If you are interested in becoming involved with the Old Pauline Cricket Club please reach out to Chris Berkett (berkettc@gmail.com) or Jack Turner (turner.jack2@googlemail.com).
Old Pauline Association Football Club (Football) St Paul’s School versus OPAFC
A cold, crisp, sunny February morning provided the ideal platform for SPS to host OPAFC in their annual footballing fixture. OPAFC arrived with high hopes of success against the well drilled outfits assembled by Luke Warriner (1997-2002) and Nick Troen (1998-2003).
The undercard saw OPAFC 2nd XI take on a St Paul’s Select XI, with the visitors taking an early lead in the 2nd minute through Conrad Barclay (2012-17). The School responded with concerted pressure, Nick Troen was unlucky to see one effort hit the crossbar. OPAFC continued to move the ball well and further goals from Luke Swan, Joe Cohlin and Henry Owen (2010-15) provided a comfortable cushion for the visitors. St Paul’s pulled a goal back through Harry Turner but alas ran out of time to build a comeback.
Special mention goes to Alex Stewart and Ian McDonell (Teaching Staff) for helping OPAFC with their balletic wing play and solid centre-back skills. The main event started at pace, with both sides sparring well to create that all important first goal. The crowd did not have to wait long, before Powell
finished incisively after a well-directed press saw an Old Pauline back pass intercepted in front of the goalkeeper. Both sides created further openings but were unable to convert before half-time. The second half followed a similar pattern, and it was the School that made their possession count when a neat through ball behind the Old Pauline defence saw Shai on hand to finish coolly in the bottom corner. OPAFC were now rocking, and more trouble loomed when another burst into the box drew a foul to win a penalty. Spot-kicks and pressure are a heady mix for goalkeepers, and a well hit penalty was superbly smothered by Conor Rowson.
Perhaps this was the break OPAFC needed, and further drama ensued when they went straight up the pitch to earn their own penalty. Stand-in skipper George Mayo (2010-15) confidently strode up, only to see his shot strike the post. SPS were in no mood to sit back, and a further lightning break saw Thompson latch on to a slide-rule through ball and finish with aplomb for 3-0. Fortunately for St Paul’s, Mr Warriner had not paid for the VAR extension of the game-recording technology and after some deliberation, the goal stood. OPAFC did manage to respond, with a header from Mayo, but could not muster a further decent attempt in the remaining time.
St Paul’s ran out deserved 3-1 winners in an entertaining game of football. A particular mention goes to Ciaran Harries (2006-11), who showed great stamina to play 180 minutes for OPAFC.
As ever, thanks to Mr Warriner for organising the games this year. OPAFC is run by Old Paulines for Old Paulines, so please be in touch if you would like to become involved. Email:
Ciaran.harries@btinternet.com 2021/22 Season Update
All three sides have settled well into their new divisions following last season’s promotion success. The 1st XI has reached the semi-final of the AFA Intermediate Cup and host league rivals Reigate on Saturday 5th March. The Vets are also on the hunt for silverware as they await their Cup Quarter-Final trip to Barnet where they will take on the London Lions.
Old Pauline Football Club (Rugby)
This season has continued to be a very strong one for the OPFC with the 1st XV currently in 2nd position in Surrey League 4 with just three league games to go and very much in the frame for promotion. It has been especially pleasing to see the average age of the 1st XV come down materially this season with the addition of recent Pauline leavers forming the backbone of the team. In addition, the club has put out a series of strong 2nd XVs and a phenomenal Vets XV for a recent Friday night game so the mood across the club is extremely positive.
In addition, the now twice delayed OPFC 150th Anniversary Dinner is set for Saturday March 26th at Twickenham for what should be a special evening. All members of the OP and St Paul’s Rugby Community are most welcome and tickets, which cost £125, can be secured using the following link: opfc.org.uk/150 After a year’s gap, the traditional ‘Recent Leavers’ vs 1st XV match took place on the Saturday before Christmas as a strong SPS side made the trek down to Thames Ditton to battle Elway’s less fit but more experienced team. The day ended with a victory for the Leavers and was followed by tea and some short speeches from OPFC members.
There was then a reunion at a pub in Waterloo for all 2021 Leavers – there was music and some more speeches as they celebrated their time at St Paul’s, having not had the opportunity last year. The OPFC is very grateful to James Blurton, and others at St Paul’s, for their continued support of this fixture.
OLD PAULINE LODGE
David Cons (1954-57) writes: The winter meeting of the Old Pauline Lodge took place at the School on the 20th January. This year’s Master, Rabbi Zvi Solomons (1981-86), conducted the ceremony for our newest member and we had several visitors from other School Lodges.
After the meeting, we were joined by interested Old Paulines, wives and partners for a splendid dinner in the Milton Gallery followed by an update from Alex Wilson about what is happening at the School. Zvi announced that the Lodge will donate £1,000 to the SPS Shaping Our Future Appeal.
There are 32 Public School lodges meeting in London and every year one of them hosts a Public School Lodges Festival at their school to which members of the other schools are invited with wives & partners. Last year, Cheltenham College hosted the festival and this year Ardingly College will be the host in June.
More than 100 years after it was founded, the Lodge is still fulfilling its original remit of bringing Old Paulines together across the years and supporting the School. Our next meeting in March will be the Installation of our new Master, Nigel Codron (1969-73). The Lodge has four meetings a year at Barnes with the kind permission of the School. The Lodge is exclusively for OPs and members of staff and, if any OP is interested in receiving more information or joining us at a meeting, he should contact our Secretary, Nigel Young, by email at
