ICECAP Crusaders reclaimed the Men’s Division 1 title in dramatic fashion on Thursday night, defeating Rathbones OV Convicts 2-1 in a tense final match of the season to secure their first championship since the 2023/24 campaign.
In a league that has been defined by its two dominant sides, this year’s honours once again came down to the final fixture and by the final moments.
The pair have shared every title between them for the past five seasons, and Crusaders’ latest triumph marks their third in that period, with Convicts having claimed the other two.
The victory not only crowns a superb campaign but also books Crusaders’ place in next summer’s Upton, where Jersey and Guernsey champions traditionally meet.
Crusaders captain Tom Millar, who scored both goals in the decisive win, admitted the achievement had been hard earned after a season he described as ‘one of the most competitive in recent years’.
“We’re delighted to win the league again. It’s been a few years,” Millar said. “It’s probably been one of the most competitive title races in the last three or four years. Only a couple of weeks ago it could have gone either way between us, Jersey Hockey Club Leopards or OV Convicts.”
Crusaders ultimately went unbeaten across their 10-game season, collecting seven wins and three draws. But Millar says their title credentials were severely tested earlier in the campaign, admitting: “We’d had a couple of sloppy results. We dropped points against Victoria College and then the new side Vanguards.
“From that point we knew we had to win all our games. Since November we’ve put together five wins on the bounce. The last two, against Leopards and then OV Convicts last night, were particularly impressive.”
Crusaders were formed in 2019 with the aim of loosening what Millar described as Old Victorians’ ‘stranglehold’ on the league. The result has been a more competitive and unpredictable top division.
This season, Crusaders strengthened further with two major arrivals from the OV’s, Millar’s brother, Pete, and Anthony Kay.
“They’ve helped enormously in terms of our quality, structure and competitiveness,” Millar said. “Without them, I don’t think we would have been challenging for the title.”
He also praised Convicts’ own rebuild under new captain Robbie Forrest, stating: “Robbie’s done a terrific job since coming back from university. Lots of people wondered whether the OV’s could challenge this year without Pete and Anthony.
“But it came down to the last game, the last moment. They could have levelled with a short corner at the death and that would have won them the league. Robbie has been the driving force behind them.”
Forrest was also on the scoresheet, his full-stretch finish two minutes from time set up a nail-biting conclusion.
With a sizeable crowd in attendance, the title decider began at full throttle. Crusaders set up compact and disciplined, wary of Convicts’ renowned short-corner threat through drag-flicker Tom Louwe.
Millar was aware of the threat that Convicts carry. saying: “We knew how dangerous they were. So, we made ourselves very hard to break down while leaving pace up front with Pierre Sangan and Tommy Boarer. In a way, we played a bit of counter-attacking hockey.”
The opener arrived midway through the first half after excellent link-up between Millar and Boarer. Driving down the left, the captain exchanged a slick one-two with Boarer on the edge of the D.
The return pass popped up at an awkward height, but Millar brought it down calmly before sliding the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs to give his side the advantage.
Crusaders created a number of first-half chances but were unable to add to their lead before the break. With Convicts needing only a draw to defend their title, the game remained in the balance.
It was not until the final ten minutes that Crusaders finally earned breathing room. Millar fed his brother Pete in the D and although the initial shot was saved, the rebound fell kindly for Tom, who swept home his second to make it 2-0.
However, Convicts struck back with two minutes remaining, Forrest stretching to divert Rhys Thomas’ delivery into the net past the stranded Jack Hutchinson. With the league on the line, Convicts threw everything forward.
“The final minutes were nervy,” Millar admitted. “They could have levelled with a penalty corner right at the death. That would have won them the league.”
But Crusaders held firm, thanks in large part to a standout defensive display, headlined by man-of-the-match Bobby Minty.
Millar was full of praise for his defender: “Bobby did a terrific job breaking up play. He made a couple of crucial tackles when we looked in trouble. Our whole defence was excellent.”
Millar’s goals ultimately sealed the title, but the captain was quick to highlight the collective effort behind the season, saying: “Goal scorers get headlines, but this was a real team effort across the whole season. I was just in the right place at the right time.”
Crusaders now look ahead to the Upton, with Millar confident the squad is well placed to challenge beyond domestic competition.
A fiercely contested season ended with a fittingly fierce finale and Crusaders, unbeaten and unrelenting, stand once again at the summit of Men’s Division 1.
