Winter Sports Grade Champions
As we approached Winter Tournament Week, winter sports seasons concluded and numerous teams across codes experienced considerable success. On Wednesday 11 September, the School recognised teams who won their grade in an Auckland Secondary Schools competition.
Basketball
The Under 17A and Junior A Basketball teams qualified for the Greater Auckland Championships. Both teams progressed through pool play and the semi-finals into their respective finals. The Junior A team lost to a dominant side from Westlake Boys’ High School while the Under 17 A team secured an Auckland Championship with a 63-33 victory over Northcote College.
Football
The 14A1 Football team had a strong season, being undefeated in their competition. The team did draw their first game of their season against Westlake Boys’ High School won their next 12 games to win the grade with a game to spare, scoring 55 goals and conceding only 10 in the process.
Hockey
The Under 15A Hockey team won all 10 games of their regular season to earn a place in the Auckland final against Macleans College. In the final, the team had a 2-0 lead before the game was delayed due to lighting. However, the team showed composure after the break and consolidated their lead with two more goals to win 4-0 and secure the Auckland title.
The other standout team across the Hockey season was the Senior Blue team, who went undefeated to win the Senior C Grade.
The captains of the Under 17A Basketball team (Form 7 student G. G. Allan), the 14A1 Football team (Form 4 student W. I. Walker) and the Under 15A Hockey team (Form 4 student C. M. Pooley, pictured above) crossed stage to receive their respective cups and the School’s congratulations on Wednesday morning.
Rugby
The recent Auckland Rugby finals day saw an impressive seven teams qualify for finals across six grades.
In the 7th Grade, the previously unbeaten 7A faced a determined side from Sacred Heart College in the final. The team defended exceptionally well in the torrid conditions to win the Auckland title with a 12-0 win and remain undefeated.
In the 6th Grade final against King’s College, 6A fought tirelessly and carried strongly, in torrential rain in the first half to lead 5-0 lead at half time. After the break, improved conditions and the team’s kicking game helped them score a further three tries to win 22-0 and cap an unbeaten season as Auckland Champions.
In the 5th Grade, 5A also played King’s College in what was expected to be a tight final. Conceding an average of 6.5 points per game throughout the season, the team knew that if they could build a lead they would remain in the game. After a slow start, a penalty and a converted try just before half time gave them a 10-0 lead. They added a penalty to the score line in the second half to seal the victory 13-0.
In the 4th Grade, the School had teams contesting both the A and B grade finals. The 4A team had a superb season, moving through to the final undefeated, however, they finished as runners-up, losing 3-8 to Sacred Heart College in the final. The 4B Blue team had a similarly dominant season and played exceptionally well in their final against Green Bay High School to claim the title with a 10-8 win.
The Under 14A team improved throughout the season. After beating St Peter’s College 30-15 in the semi-final, they displayed commitment to avenge their only regular season loss with a 26-23 win over Kelston Boys’ High School in the final.
The Under 15A team had a focus on defence to start the season which showed as they conceded just three points in their first eight games. A midseason comeback win against Kelston Boys’ High School from 22-3 down at half time was defining and set up a rematch in the final against Kelston. The team played with control and accuracy to record a 12-8 victory and secure the Auckland title.
The captains of the 7A team (Form 4 student F. T. Lindesay), the 6A team (Form 4 student R. M. Rackham), the 5A team (Form 6 student H. W. Symonds), the Under 14A team (Form 3 Student W. W. Bracewell) and the Under 15A team (Form 4 student C. N Murdoch) all crossed stage on Wednesday morning to receive their respective cups and the School’s congratulations on behalf of their teams.