Nick Speight Shield
A beautiful afternoon greeted the 12 members of the Old Boys’ Hockey XI for a match against the 1st XI that had just returned from yet another Rankin Cup final (going down 0–1 to St Kentigern College). The Old Boys’ team consisted of last year’s 1st XI captain Llewey Heale, James Donaldson, Will Macfarlane, Dean Gardiner, Martyn and Kieren Roe, Benji Andrews, Chris Reddiford, Tom Mouldey, and Sam Mark with Paul Cook (from the Dining Hall) in goal. Last year’s 1st XI keeper, Louis Beckert, was away with the Canterbury Cavaliers at the NPC Tournament, as was Black Sticks representative Dominic Newman. David Mills was a spectator and Humphrey Tapper turned up at the RSA after match. In contrast to the previous year’s match report, I will reveal from the outset that in what was another wonderful display of skills and unselfish team work from both sides (especially the College XI in the first half) the Old Boys proved to be masters at scoring goals out of nothing, to run out worthy winners 9–2. In the first half, the College XI showed exactly why they had made it to the Rankin Cup final two years in a row, spreading the ball deftly and showing the patience that sometimes has been lacking in previous years. After 20 minutes, almost against the run of play, Benji Andrews (now confirmed as a dangerous striker) broke into the circle, gave the ball to Martyn Roe who went left to right around the keeper. A great goal. Elliot Faulkner followed up just before the end of the half finishing from a rebound, after his first shot was well saved by Oscar Wilson in goal. College continued to set up good opportunities through good sideline through balls to Ollie Love, Lars Dalley and skilful youngsters to watch out for in the future, Archie Batchelor, Tom Clark and Alex Lloyd. Equally skilful goal keeping and circle defence by Chris Reddiford and Kieren Roe, kept College scoreless.
The second half was a free-for-all, as the College senior players, in their last match for the XI, tried a different tactic, which, as ever, backfired. Hoping to use the experience of Captain Will Duston and NZ U18 player, Nick Lidstone up front, they left huge holes in the midfield and despite his best efforts, normal striker, Lars Dalley, is not a defender. The Tom Mouldey and Chris Reddiford through balls were deadly accurate and Oscar Wilson in goal had no chance. A flurry of Old Boys’ goals followed a Reddiford drag flick. Llewey Heale tapped in his first goal when noone noticed he was lurking on the far post, Benji (twice), Sam Mark and Elliot (again) took opportunities presented to them from Tom, the College keeper, and Chris, before Tom Mouldey burst through and scored the ninth goal for the OBs. For College, two goals were scored despite their positive play promising more; the last to Year 9 player Alex Lloyd, who calmly tapped in a Lars Dalley cross on the far post. A textbook goal to finish. At the Nick Speight Memorial Shield presentation and photo shoot afterwards, GJW reminded both teams that it was Nick Speight who was captain of the first College XI to be invited to the Rankin Cup Tournament (Palmerston North, 1984), and that the Old Boys’ match began in 1989 as a tough match for the XI before they went off to August tournament. It was then discussed at the after-match function that perhaps the annual match should be brought forward to the Sunday a week before the Rankin Cup tournament begins, to give the boys a tough but positive workout before departing. As the boys left the turf, the five College 1st XI Year 13 leavers (Will, Lars, Ollie, Sam Blake and Oscar) were given a guard of honour and applause by both teams, as well as an invitation to be at the 2019 Old Boys’ match.
Graeme Worner
Christ’s College Canterbury
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