Report: Traditional exchange with Christchurch Boys’ High School
The 1st XI Cricket and the Premier Tennis and Water Polo teams competed in the traditional three-day exchange against Christchurch Boys’ High School from Sunday 23 – Tuesday 25 February. Below is a full report:
Cricket
The 1st XI Cricket team started their exchange with Christchurch Boys’ High School in Christchurch on Sunday 23 February. Winning the toss, the team chose to bat first, setting a first innings total of 220, with Form 7 students L. G. Marshall and H. A. Mcleod getting 64 and 110 respectively.
In the second day of the traditional fixture against Christchurch Boys’ High School, the day started with the hosts open their 1st innings with the bat. The 1st XI Cricket team’s opening pace attack set the tone early with Form 7 student S. F. Openshaw and Form 6 student B. S. Lucas bowling excellent spells to take early wickets. The introduction of spin then continued to restrict the runs while taking the remaining wickets, dismissing the hosts for 151, including Form 7 students A. R. Hathi 4 for 41 and H. D. F. Waite 3 for 51.
In the 2nd innings, Form 7 student L. D. Fong and Captain M. W. Alpe’s partnership was defining in the 1st XI’s 205 for 5 by the end of the day’s play, with Alpe 110 and Fong 70.
On the final morning of the traditional three-day fixture against Christchurch Boys’ High School, the 1st XI returned to the crease in their 2nd innings and declared with a lead of 303. With five hours of play remaining, the team’s pace attack worked hard, taking two wickets in the first session.
The introduction of spin through the middle session created chances as Christchurch Boys’ High School’s middle order began to increase the run rate.
The combination of pace from B. S. Lucas and spin from H. D. F. Waite combined well to secure 10 wickets (Lucas with 4 for 40 and Waite with 6 for 75) to help secure an outright victory for the 1st XI Cricket team.
Captain M. W. Alpe crossed stage on Wednesday 26 February to receive the Cricket Challenge Trophy (pictured above) and the School’s congratulations on behalf of the team.
Tennis
The Premier Tennis team opened their exchange against Christchurch Boys’ High School yesterday by playing two rounds of doubles and the reverse singles. Two of the three doubles pairs won their sets, with the team winning five of the six reverse singles matches.
At the conclusion of Day 1, the Premier Tennis team led 8-4 with the seeded singles and the final round of doubles matches on Day 2.
Day two began with the seeded singles on another warm and muggy day in Christchurch. Winning five of their six singles matches, and winning one of their final doubles matches, the overall result was a convincing 14-7 for the Premier team.
Water Polo
The Premier Water Polo team opened the exchange with a hard-fought win over St Bede’s College. St Bede’s led at half time, however the Premier team responded well, with fitness an aiding factor latter in the game, to secure a 14-9 win.
The team then played Westlake Boys’ High School, with this game doubling as an Auckland Premier Competition fixture. The team played attacking Water Polo, to lead from start to finish, winning 11-9.
Day two of the exchange saw the Premier Water Polo team play a further three games. The team is building consistency in its preparedness to soak up pressure in the first half of games and then use their fitness in the second half to build a strong counter attack.
The Premier team opened their day by beating Christchurch Boys’ High School 14-9, and they followed this up with an 18-2 win in their second fixture. The third and final game of the exchange was against St Bede’s College which they won 14-8, meaning they were the only team who finished the quad tournament unbeaten.