SOUTHAMPTON IN VASE FINAL

Southampton aim to become the fifth local club in recent seasons to lift England Hockey’s Vase trophy when they face Scunthorpe-based Brigg at the Lee Valley Olympic Park, Stratford on Saturday, 1pm.
But they go into the national final as underdogs against a Brigg side that has already been crowned Yorkshire Premier League champions this season.
Southampton, in contrast, finished fifth in Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 2.
Being the un-fancied finalists suits Southampton down to the ground.
“This is the club’s biggest day in years and we want to do the city proud,” said player/coach and top scorer Rob O’Brien.
“We have knocked out some decent sides to get to the final, are training hard and making sure we are all fully prepared for the final.”
Andover won the Vase in 2007, while there have been three local regional league winners in the past four years, with Winchester, Camberley & Farnborough and last season Haslemere having their names etched on the trophy.
Southampton’s cup run has been full of goals, with O’Brien scoring 16 of 25 strikes.
Results:
Round 1: Southampton 3-3 Slough (won 6-5 on penalty strokes)
Goals:  O'Brien (2), Matthew Wood .
Round 2: Cheshunt 1-7 Southampton
Goals: O'Brien (5), Liam Eastwood, Josh White
Round 3: Southampton 6-1 Wotton Bassett
Goals: O'Brien (3), Kevin Barrs, George Watling, Jack Holloway
Round 4 (1/4 Final): Southampton 5-2 Amersham & Chalfont
Goals: O'Brien (4), George Watling
Semi Final: Trinity Mid-Whitgiftians 2-4 Southampton
Goals: O'Brien (2), Simon Watson, Oscar Rigby
Southampton’s Vase final squad: Bryn Webber (Captain), Charlie Griffiths, Rob O'Brien, Toby Rigby, Will Thomson, Jack Holloway, Matthew Wood, Liam Eastwood, Joshua White, James Girling, Simon Watson, Craig Harris, Tom Watson, Oscar Rigby, Sam Capper, George Watling.