Please make sure you have filled out the online membership form for the OWA - you can not join the OWA via a sports section.
I hope that you had a good Easter which was of course impacted by the sad news of the death of Pope Francis, aged 88 on bank holiday Monday. May he rest in peace.
For many of our members’ children and grandchildren, many of whom are or were Warriors or Colts, they are now on countdown to the GCSEs and A Levels, so I wish them all the very best of luck with that.
The work to replace the clubhouse ceiling is nearing its end.
We still have some tidying up to do and to decorate or redecorate in some parts, but the vast majority of the messy bit is complete and thus the bar is fully back in action this week.
Rugby
Every year the OWRFC takes great care to keep our young players connected and involved in the OWs even though they may be away at Uni for most of the season and/or playing for their college teams.
Indeed the Rams was in part formed for that purpose but a couple of fixtures for the occasionally formed U22s at Christmas and at this time of the year has been a great vehicle for keeping those relationships strong.
On Monday, the U22s put out a squad for a few games at a festival hosted at Cobham RFC against Camberley, Sutton and Epsom and Farnham.
The U22s won 2 out of 3, which as Meatloaf would say, ain’t bad! Sutton and Epsom got their revenge for their cup defeat at the hands of the Rams the weekend before.
But the results are largely irrelevant. The boys had a magnificent day and, according to some (i.e. the bar takings) an even better evening!
Sorry, but I have no further news about the Rams’ cup final but will update you as soon as I do. If anyone from the Rams wants to contact me to update me, please feel free.
Football
Saturday
There were no SAL games over Easter, but both Saturday sides have been docked 3 points by the league this week after falling afoul of the rules on fixture fulfilment.
For the 1s this means it is only goal difference which is stopping them being pulled back into the Junior Division 4 South relegation battle. So they need to ensure they take at least 1 point this Saturday against bottom side Actonians 6th to secure their future in the division.
The 2s meanwhile have been knocked off top spot in Junior Division 5 South as a result. A win this Saturday against sixth placed Old Wilsonians 5th will see the promotion race reduced to just the top 4 teams with the OWs and Poly 6th in pole position to take the top 2 spots.
Sunday
Easter Sunday was not kind to the Firsts as they succumbed to a 3-2 loss to Alexandra United Reds. The dropped points have dealt a huge blow to the OWs Division 5 promotion challenge.
However, with St Helier Youth only managing a draw last week, if St Helier fail to win their final game of the season then we can clinch promotion if we sign off with 3 wins.
The Firsts have no game this Sunday but wins in their next 2 games on the 4 and 11 of May will really pile the pressure on St Helier when the season concludes on the 18 May.
The Reserves fell just short in their final game of the season, with a narrow 2-1 loss to Sutton Knights A.
The OWs now face an anxious wait to see if Griffin Athletic fail to take more than one point from their final 4 games in Division 6.
The A Team signed off on their season with an 8-0 loss to Parkside Sunday. Their victorious opponents now only need a point to take the Division 8 title.
It's been a tough debut season for the OWs and hopefully they can regroup and strengthen over the summer and look forward to a fresh start in the autumn.
There are no veterans games this weekend. The Amblers recorded their first win of the season on Tuesday beating AFC Farnham 5-3 under the lights at Surrey Sports Park in Guilford.
Cricket
The Cricket season has started and a few friendlies played to warm up before the real action begins. I will begin my reporting on that when the league gets going.
But in the meantime I am sure you will join me in wishing all our cricketers the very best of luck for the season ahead.
AGM Tuesday 3 June 2025 – Candidates please
Please be reminded that the OWA AGM will take place on the evening of 3 June 2025.
If you are interested in standing for any position on the OWA Committee, please feel free to confirm the same to me.
It would be helpful if you could give a written summary of yourself and why you would like to stand for the relevant post, so that I may inform our membership when the official notice goes out in a couple of weeks
Have a good week.
Michael-Jon Andrews
Chairman
Charlie Hellings will be running the London Marathon on Sunday in aid of St Raph’s Hospice, inspired by the great care that they gave his good friend and fellow former Warrior Luca Buttaci.
Please give what you can to support Charlie by clicking the link and donating online, and big good luck from all of us to Charlie.
Very sadly, Tony Lee passed away peacefully in his sleep last Sunday night, 6 April.
Tony was an old boy of Donhead (1948-52) and Wimbledon College (1952-59). He joined the OWA after leaving school in 1959 and remained a hugely active and prominent member for the rest of his life.
During his lifelong commitment to the OWA, he Captained, Chaired and Presided over the Cricket Club, Rugby Club and OWA over many years. In 1970 he captained both the Rugby and Cricket first teams.
Above all else, however, he was a thoroughly decent, generous and friendly man.
Tony followed in his father’s footsteps as an OWA stalwart and took great delight in following the progress of his grandchildren through our junior sections.
He could not have avoided it to be honest as his daughter, Emma, and son in law, Roger Brosch were the founders of the Warriors.
Needless to state that Tony will be sorely missed by his wife, Sally, daughters Emma, Bernie, Gabs, Cath and son, Greg, his grandchildren as well and his many, many friends.
On behalf of the whole Association, our sincere and profound condolences go out to all of them.
Tom Bordessa's men won the title with a convincing 88-14 victory in their final game against Farnham 3rd XV.
They will now be promoted to the Surrey Alliance League next season.
Wimbledon College Hospitalité are once again organising working and non-working trips to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes to run along side each other in August of 2025.
Please see the full article on the work they do and how you can get involved on the Hospitalité page.
HAVE SOME FUN AND SUPPORT THE OWs, WARRIORS AND CRICKET COLTS
The OW Big Prize Club, a registered lottery, has six annual draws. The first prize in each draw is £1000 and there are three lesser prizes.
50% of BPC subscriptions is distributed as prizes and the remaining 50% supports the facilities for the OWs, the cricket colts and the rugby warriors.
Total prizes distributed in 2018 were c. £ 7600. Annual prize money increases with increased numbers of subscribers (the annual number of draws has recently been increased from 5 to 6 per year).
New subscribers are very welcome. Anyone can join and you can have as many "tickets" as you wish for yourself, your children or grandchildren. The BPC subscription is £10 pcm.
If you would like others to join the BPC please email owabigprize@gmail.com.
A big thank you to all that give their support via the BPC and good luck in future draws.
Best Regards.
Dave Doran
Big Prize Club AdminCheck out the Remembrance Page which remembers those from the College who died in the First and Second World Wars.
We have also updated the Notable Alumni page