The Boxing Day Cup is a great way to end the first half of the 2025-2026 hockey season and with President Gill Nord and Chairman Phil Collins choosing two exceptional teams, this years match was nothing short of pure excitement from start to finish.
The President's team went ahead within the first 10mins of the 1st half with a sneaky goal around Keeper Ed, but just before half-time the Chairman's team evened the score to go into the half-time talk on an even keel.
What the Chair said to his team at half-time must've been truly inspirational, because they came out all guns blazing in the second half...scoring two absolutely cracking goals around Keeper Karen in the first 15mins of the second half...taking them ahead 3-1, showing the appreciative crowd why they had been chosen by Chairman Phil and certainly looking like they had run away with the game.
However, the President's team wasn't giving up just yet - they stepped-up the pace and found space across the pitch and brought the scoreline back to 3-3 with two silky smooth goals that showed why President Gill had chosen this team.
With just six minutes to go it was anyone's game - with the game going end-to-end and the pace picking up, the atmosphere was electric and the crowd were on their feet cheering from the bleachers, but at the final whistle it was a deadlock...3-3 Draw and a very worthy result for both teams.
It was a great day, loads of fun on and off the pitch, together with plenty of silliness on the pitch as clubmate tackled clubmate, along with that competitiveness the Aylesbury Ducks are known for!
It was a clash of the titans and next year's re-match is going to be one everyone will want to be a part of to see who gets to take home the Champions trophy!
It was a great way for Aylesbury Hockey Club to see out 2025 after a successful start to the 2025-2026 League season across all sections. All teams are fighting hard, taking home points to secure their place on the League ladders and learning from the losses to take their game to the next level. The second half of the season, starting in just a couple of weeks, will see the red and blacks step it up and bring the heat across the Women's, Men's and Junior sections and be a force to be reckoned with.
1. Contributed
President's team member Ben Kiely (in white) is surrounded by Chairman's team members Lewis Barnes, Lucy Robson & Tori Bowles as he goes for a pass-off in the attacking D Photo: Submitted
2. Contributed
Mother and Son go head-to-head in opposing teams as Harry (Chairman's team in red) looks to score a goal against his Mum GK Karen (President's team) to take them in the lead early in the second half Photo: Submitted
3. Contributed
President Gill Nord and Chairman Phil Collins were thrilled with their teams efforts on Boxing Day Photo: Submitted
4. Contributed
There was a lot of laughter and fun on the pitch as clubmate took on clubmate, but when it came down to it, the go old Aylesbury Duck competitiveness kicked-in when needed Photo: Submitted