The 2019 Lodsworth Village 4 goal Cup attracted a high entry.  Nine teams entered the competition with Wilf Fine’s Sea Breeze side making it to another Final, this time to face Louisa Watts’ Brown Rudnick.

The young Sea Breeze team saw Wilf Fine (0 goals) at the front door, Alfie Hyde (1 goal) at number 2, Will Harper (2 goals) at 3 and Angus Rowan-Hamilton at Back.  Louisa Watts (-1) took the number 1 slot for Brown Rudnick with Evan Power (0 goals) at 2, Lachie Gilmore (2 goals) at 3 and Edward Banner-Eve (3 goals) at Back.

First mark on the scoreboard came from Ed Banner-Eve for Brown Rudnick with an unopposed run all the way through Sea Breeze’s goal.  Banner-Eve and Gilmore continued the attack but both sent shots at goal wide. An infringement allowed Sea Breeze’s youngest team member, Alfie Hyde, to send a brilliant 60 yard penalty shot between the posts to draw level.  When Sea Breeze were awarded another 60 yard penalty, once again an on-fire Hyde scored and the chukka ended with Sea Breeze ahead 2-1. The second chukka opened with Banner-Eve for Brown Rudnick on the attack. A great steal by Hyde, who turned and ran the ball all the way through the posts for 3-1, indicated how talented this young Cowdray player is. Will Harper took Sea Breeze on to 4-1 with a super field goal, Banner-Eve for Brown Rudnick replying just before the second bell sounded for chukka’s end so Sea Breeze went into half time 4-2 ahead.

Shortly into the third chukka, a well-aimed ball from Power allowed Gilmore to pull back a goal for Brown Rudnick.  However, the team incurred a penalty, giving a free hit from the centre line to Sea Breeze. Rowan-Hamilton sent the ball to Harper who moved it on, Alfie Hyde finishing the attack and taking his side on to 5-3.  Banner-Eve continued to fight for Brown Rudnick, but his next try at goal was stopped by a great clearance from Rowan Hamilton. Another goal came from Hyde before Banner-Eve and Gilmore’s persistence paid off and Gilmore was able to sneak a ball through the Sea Breeze defense and score, the chukka ending with Sea Breeze 6-4 ahead.

The final chukka saw both sides battling for possession, Banner-Eve demonstrating his 3 goal prowess by deftly working his way round all the orange shirts of Sea Breeze to pull Brown Rudnick up to within a goal of Sea Breeze.  However, awarded a penalty, Gilmore sent his 60 yard shot wide. The pace didn’t let up. Fine sent a huge shot to Hyde, whose cut shot failed to find its mark. With less than 60 seconds to go, Banner-Eve hit the ball in from the back line, Gilmore tapped it forward leaving it for Banner-Eve, but time ran out and the final whistle saw victory for Sea Breeze at 6-5.

The Lodsworth Village Cup was presented to Wilf Fine by Ron Fine, his proud grandfather, who also presented individual prizes to all players.

In the subsidiary final, Waireka beat Verdley Farm 8-7.