Star Board Term Three Week Seven

Tournament Week - Football

A busy week in Rotorua for the girls and management. The weather was simply amazing the whole week with the fields being very dry and grass mown very low, something that the team has not experienced this season. Hence the game plan that the girls were use to had to be changed.

Some tough competition on Monday and Tuesday, games against the overall winner and runner up of the tournament! The girls settled in well and played some good football, with two games going down to shoot outs; with St Matthew’s winning both of these. Thursday and Friday games were more our league and some great sportsmanship and games evident.

After the final game and the guard of honour for the students leaving from both teams, Hannah had a speech, with some rather sad Year 13 students and not too many dry eyes in the camp. Well done Hannah and best of luck to the Year 13’s. Many thanks to Matt Dudley the coach and to the parents who travelled up to support the team.

Tournament Week - Hockey

A super result for the 1st XI Hockey team at the Premier National Hockey Tournament in Christchurch. The team placed 11th out of the top 32 teams in NZ. The team was lead by our five Year 13s who were vital to the team’s success, the example set and culture created by these girls was a huge part of how the team could perform so consistently over the 6 days of the competition. The team completed 7 games of hockey, 5 wins, 2 losses. They were the second highest field goal scoring team with 17 goals scored, and the 5th highest for total goals scored (20).

A huge thank you to our highly efficient manager Karla Matthews, amazing school staff Sandie Sherwen and Flora Devonshire, our incredibly supportive parent group and the Old Girls who study in Canterbury who cheered us on all week, and the school’s Sport Department, every one of you were part of the successful 2023 campaign.

Amanda McLeod and Tony Lyford (coaches)

Tournament Week - Netball

The Snr A Netball team competed at the Lower North Island Netball Championships in Wellington. The campaign began on Sunday 27th August with the ability to have all 10 players getting court time.

With 2 wins under our belt, we were tasked with winning or at least drawing our last pool game to secure top 16 in the B grade. With tough opposition, the lead changed back and forth but in the last quarter, a draw was enough for us to go through to the top 16 teams.

Weary bodies made for an interesting day of obtaining top 8 position. However, two wins on day 3 confirmed our place in top 8 going into day 4 on Wednesday.

The team culture has been positive on and off the court all week and this helped pathe the way for another comfortable win against Chilton St James Lower Hutt. Our 2nd game of the day was again a must win or a draw scenario. We went head-to-head with a very physical oppostition but we kept our cool and managed to secure a draw to send us through to top 4!

Going into finals day we played our nemesis team of Upper Hutt College and with a tight, physical game upon us, the team were able to keep to the game plan under pressure and overcome the physicality to win 32-28. The most exciting game to send us to the finals against Dannevirke, who like us, had not had a loss over the week.

Securing top 2 spots in B grade was a great achievement. It meant no matter what the outcome, the girls had secured an automatic promotion to the A grade in 2024!

Although the final was not to be ours, we were just as ecstatic as though we had won the game. The tenacity and fight that every member of the team had ended on a high.

The team management wish to mention the fantastic support we received from the families of the girls. They were there, every day, beside us. It did not go unnoticed, and I am sure there were as many hearts beating through their chests in the games that had us all on the edge of our seats. We cannot thank you enough for all the positive feedback and support given to us.

Lastly to the team members. You all rock! It was a tournament that showed your fight, your team spirit on and off the court and the team going into A grade after 10 years. We salute you!

Special mention to Hester Radford who did a wonderful job as captain over the week and we wish the Yr 13s all the best.

Equestrian

A huge week for our five riders and six ponies. Lots of clear rounds, some individual placings, and some personal bests in the dressage.

Fantastic also to have Solway Equestrian and Kuranui College Equestrian team here. Lots of these girls ride together at pony club and great to see the teams supporting each other.

🐎Lily, Peta and Zahara competed in Competitive Trail Riding for the first time which was exciting. A 10km ride for the three of them.

🐎Arena Eventing consisted of show jumps and X country jumps all together in a grass arena. Lots of fun and some big jumps across the levels.

🐎Consistent results for everyone in the showjumping. Lots of clear rounds and jump offs.

🐎Those that competed in dressage rode 3 tests over the 4 days.

Highlights over the week include:

🐴 Bramble and Poppy in the dressage level 1B with a score of 73.75% for second place.

🐴 Bramble and Poppy in dressage level 1C with a score of 68.9% for a 6th place.

🐴Bramble and Poppy coming 5th in pony show hunter 70-80.

🐴Zahara and Mack placing 5th in Arena Eventing in the hack ring.

Overall placings were:

🐎Lily Butler and Jack placing 5th overall in the 90-1mt jumping. This is a huge result as Lily is only in year 8. She rode consistently well over all her rounds.

🐎Zahara and Mack placing 6th overall in the hack ring for jumping. A considerable result in a very large class!