Together We Learn and Grow

Mixed North Island Hockey Tournament

In Term 3 Week 7, 13 of our students traveled to Taupō for the Mixed North Island Hockey Tournament.

This years team have been joined by 5 players from Taumarunui giving us a whopping 18 players to come to tournament with. All the players get on well as they met each other whilst playing in the Waikato hockey league on a Monday night in Hamilton. Taumarunui travel 3 hours each way to play their matches. So here in Taupō it's a delight for all players to be travelling only 15 mins to the turf.

There are 16 teams in this years tournament from all over the North Island. These teams are divided into 4 groups. We play each other then go into a knock out.

In our first match our team were developing their playing strategies and positioning. We didn't win but played a good match. Tuesday saw our second match resulting with a 3-0 defeat but some fantastic play considering we had lost two of our year 13 players. Our team played outstandingly well.

 During our down time we dropped everyone at Huka Falls and then took the track to Spa Road stopping for a good hour or so to benefit from the thermal qualities of the water. The Spa Road thermal area has been given a makeover. No longer is it a natural outlet in to the lake but a real touristy bathing point complete with showers and changing room. At least the waters are real and unchanged.

Fortunately the magical powers of the unique thermal waters of Taupo had the desired effects on the team the next day. Wednesday started cold and windy but undeterred we played a great game against Fairfield College winning 3-2. The team played a strategic game, passed the ball, marked opponents and scored 3 magnificent goals. Isabelle , Corbin and Christiaan (THS) were the goal scorers. Isabelle did come off the field due to injury but after ice and an x ray all was well. Bruising and nothing broken thank goodness. 

That evening we were celebrating  and had a well deserved roast dinner and ambrosia. A team needs to be fed well and that's one thing we excel at due to the culinary (and coaching) skills of Kerry Leslie.

Thursday morning brought us fine weather and glimmer of hope so of to the turf we went. We were playing Tuakau who had a really strong team. A couple of incidents during the match occurred. As we play mixed hockey we have to have at least 4 girls/boys on the field at all times. Tuakau had only 3 on the field at one point so their captain spent 10 mins on the bench giving us a chance to get ahead of the game. We lost 5-0 but were proud of the way be played as we had many chances on goal but just couldn't get it in.

After a swim at AC Baths and a wander around Taupō with Mrs Kinloch (coach) and Inneke Cummings (THS coach., manager, driver etc)  the team headed back. 

We worked out that our ranking out of 16 would be either 11th or 12th place. A massive leap from the previous year's placing.

So the final day is tomorrow so watch this space for our last and final report.