The first week of the 2021-22 Finals Fortnight ended with the senior students taking centre stage at Rectory Park for the SE Tye 1st XI Cup and 2nd XI Cup Finals.
A little bit of history was going to be made during the SE Tye Cup Final, given that both the schools competing, University College School and The London Oratory School, were competing in the decider for the first time. The match was an extremely close contest which was eventually decided by a single goal. That goal went to UCS (top), meaning that they took the winners’ medals back to Hampstead courtesy of a 1-0 victory.
While the SE Tye Cup was a nip-and-tuck affair, the 2nd XI Cup Final was more of a rollercoaster. Played on the second pitch at Rectory Park at the same time as the 1st XI Final, this match paired St Thomas More – who had won the trophy in both 2012-13 and 2013-14 – with St Ignatius College, who had won the Cup outright on two occasions and been joint winners of the trophy in 2000-01.
Haringey’s St Thomas More dominated the first half and ended it 2-0 ahead. However, St Ignatius responded in spectacular fashion during the second period. The Enfield school (pictured above) turned the match on its head, scoring three times without reply after half-time. St Ignatius claimed the win, with their 3-2 victory meaning that their school claimed the 2nd XI Cup for the first time in more than 20 years.
Congratulations go to University College School and St Ignatius College, of course, but credit is due to runners-up The London Oratory and St Thomas More. Both senior Finals were keenly contested and the results were in the balance right up until the final whistles. All four teams were a credit to their schools and these two games encapsulated why MSFA competitions have endured for 90 years.
