The selection of a young 3rd XI meant the boys would be playing against older, bigger, and stronger boys. The key coaching aspiration was to improve the boys’ basic skills and ensure that they understood positions and the running of the game. As was expected, the team struggled early against experienced opposition. Many boys had played few 11-aside games. However, the turning point was the Tanner Cup in Hamilton, with understanding and experience growing from the tournament hockey and being in an environment where learning was the goal. Victories were recorded over St Paul’s Collegiate School and Rotorua Boys’ High School, with a very close loss to the formidable Westlake Boys High School team. With s return home to round two of our competition, the team impressed and the benefit from Hamilton was obvious. A 2–3 loss to the Lincoln High School 1st XI was disappointing – as College dominated for much of the game with great team play – yet exciting, as College had turned around a 0–7 round one loss to the
eventual grade winner. By the final game of the year, College had gone from last to finish 3rd following three unbeaten games. This included a 7–0 drubbing of Christchurch Boys’ High School after originally losing 1–3. Success at this level should not be measured by results, but by development. Results are for higher levels. However, the success for this year is the development of talented youngsters who will form the backbone of the 1st XI. The Senior XI dominated the Boys Division 3 competition this year, ending victorious overall. However, it was not smooth sailing. The team had to work hard throughout the season, with the boys continuing to improve their skills and not get ahead of themselves, which was easy to do. Towards the end of the round robin, the team had its first loss and draw in back-to-back weeks. However, the boys bounced back and retained the top spot going into the finals. In the play-offs, College had a convincing 8–1 win against Christchurch Boys’ High School, with only one player on the bench. The boys focused
on passing so that fatigue did not become a major factor. Star striker Josh Peckitt scored four goals and played a major part in booking a spot in the final. This was the first time since 2009 that the Senior XI had made the final and the players realised it would be tough. St Bede’s College had been the toughest opponent of the season. While College had beaten St Bede’s College twice, it was only by one goal. Again, with only one sub, the team played smart and calculated hockey, dominating the opposition to win 11–2.
The CC Grey XI had a positive season, with some good results,
many excellent passages of play, and a plethora of improved players. The boys were expertly led by Charlie Peacock, who was effort personified during the games and led by example in training. The highlights included an early 5–0 defeat of St Bede’s College and exciting and well-contested games against the CC Black XI, which ended with one win each. Goals were hard to come by, but with the rotation of the excellent Loch Alexander, Marco Howe, and Ohm Intoratat in
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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