Many congratulations to the Old Tonbridgians for an excellent and exciting game in the final of the Arthur Dunn Cup, which the OTs lost in extra time. Huge thanks to all the OTs, parents and friends who came to support.

Team Photo - Top Row (l to r):
Harry Langham, Alex Holder, Seb Herran, Hamish Nolan, Harry Balcombe, Olly Turner, Finn Harvey, Jude Ogunkoya-Howland

Bottom Row (l to r):
Jimi Adesanya, Kieran Bailey, Jamie Lavers, Sam Colley, Byron Doughty, Tom Tribe, Luke Spurling 

Not pictured:
Luca Byrne

Sam Colley (WW 03-08) reports:

"This was the third instalment of Old Tonbridgians v Old Reptonians in the final of the Arthur Dunn Cup. In 2012 it was the OTs who were victors. In 2024, the ORs inflicted revenge. The third encounter took place on Saturday 11 April 2026 at Old Merchant Taylor’s ground.

It became clear early on this would be a physical, direct matchup. The OTs engineered the first passing move of note, Byron Doughty (WW 19-24) and Sam Colley linking down the right-hand side, before finding Alex Holder (Sc 07-12) at the edge of the box, who unleashed a thunderbolt off his supposedly weaker left foot, flying into the top corner. 1-0 to Tonbridge. What a season Holder has had.

What followed was a barrage of long balls and long throws, superbly dealt with by an OT back four led by the captain, Harry Balcombe (WW 15-20). But the ORs responded from a corner with a high, looping ball that caught in the wind, landed right underneath the Tonbridge crossbar and was bundled in by the ORs.

This was the first goal the OTs have conceded in the competition since the Round of 16, but no time to sulk. Another rare passage of passing football found Kieran Bailey (CH 14-19), who worked tirelessly all afternoon as the sole striker, in space about 20 yards out. An intricate through-ball split the OR defence and found Olly Turner (OH 12-17), the Club Captain, making a trademark run off the left wing. A great first touch but he could not find the finish, agonisingly lifting the ball just over the bar. All square at half-time.

More of the same in the second half, although perhaps the ORs began to take slightly more control, with the wind at their backs. Balcombe, joined in defence by Hamish Nolan (CH 10-15), Jimi Adesanya (PH 20-25) and Jamie Lavers (JH 04-09), were impenetrable, with midfield cover provided by Finn Harvey (HS 15-20). On one rare occasion the ORs fashioned a good shooting opportunity, Harry Langham (CH 10-15) tipped expertly over the bar with his left hand.

Then to Extra Time. The OTs had relatively fresh legs in the attacking third through Jude Ogunkoya-Howland (SH 20-25), Luca Byrne (SH 16-18), Seb Herran (OH 06-11), Tom Tribe (PH 15-20) and Luke Spurling (JH 09-14), and looked for the win. However, it was the ORs who created the better chances. First, a penalty shout, originally awarded by the referee, correctly over-turned by the linesman. Next, a great move by the ORs found their best player on the day free at the back post, only for a remarkable save from Langham with his right foot.

It would, though, be third time lucky for the ORs. A long throw. A couple of deflections. The ball fell to the OR Captain, who finished, into the roof of the net, to send the ORs 2-1 up with only minutes remaining. Always close and always hard-fought. Congratulations to Repton and thank you to Arthur Dunn Committee for another perfectly run competition.

We will be back, I’m sure of that".