St Thomas lifted College into the final against Southland Boys’ High School, where the team delivered a near flawless 5–0 victory. While the season was a rollercoaster, the team grew more robust with each game. The boys began to play some exceptional football, but consistency under pressure remained a crucial area for improvement next season. With the lessons learnt and the experiences gained, College can look forward to 2025, ready to build on this year’s success and aim for greater heights. RAVENS The Ravens’ season gradually became fragmented and messy, despite some solid early training
After losing to both Cashmere Technical teams, beating Halswell, and drawing with both Nomads and the Ravens, the team showed that it deserved to be in the top division. The official league season started with a 2–0 win over the Ravens and after beating St Bede’s College, 4–0, the Crows team was top of the division through three rounds. Then illness, school holidays, school events, and injuries impacted on the season, as the Crows struggled to gain the results the performances deserved. Despite battling to field 11 players, the desire and effort were always clear to see. Training sessions focused on passing patterns, helping to create chances. However, it was soon apparent that shooting and finishing practice was needed to ensure the goals that our build-up play deserved. The best performances were probably against the Ravens, with the final game of the season resulting in a hard-fought 1–1 draw. The Crows finished 5th – a bit disappointing considering the talent in the squad. However, it was awesome to see the team perform so well at the end of the season. 2ND XI VETS What a season for the 2nd XI Vets. Set up this year as a Year 13 squad, the team competed in the CSS Wednesday competition. With games kicking off straight after school, it often turned into a race to get on the field, with those arriving first starting the match. Training once a week, the team frequently welcomed members from the Crows and Ravens, but fostered camaraderie among the Year 13 veteran players. The season began with a default win against an understrength opposition, followed by impressive 16–3 and 7–1 wins over Ellesmere College and Kaiapoi High School, respectively. However, not every match was one- sided. The team had a hard-fought 2–2 draw against the Riccarton High School 1st XI and experienced back-to-back losses, 1–4 and 3–11. Interestingly, the 3–11 defeat was not the most disappointing moment. That
honour went to the 2-2 draw against Shirley Boys’ High School, who fielded only eight players for half the game. The season concluded on a bittersweet note at Hornby High School, where the team lost 4–5 in the semi-final. Despite the ups and downs, the team’s spirit and togetherness were undeniable. From iconic celebrations to Media Studies discussions on game tactics, the season was filled with memorable moments. Overall, it was an enjoyable season. We hope the players will cherish the memories of Christ’s College football for years to come. 3RD XI Like many new teams, the 3rd XI started the season on shaky ground with some tough losses. However, the team quickly found its rhythm and soon emerged as one of the best teams in the division, securing massive victories against tough competition. A 5–1 win over Cashmere Technical (CTFC) 15 Silver and a 4–1 win over CBHS 17 Black showed that College was heading in the right direction. As the season progressed, the team gained momentum, with incredible goals and impressive team play. The holiday break provided a welcome rest, but also made it harder to maintain the momentum. Absences and injuries hindered play, but the team pushed on. The season concluded in thrilling style, as the team secured 5th place after a nail- biting penalty shootout. Thank you to all the staff who supported the team, especially Ashleigh Ward who brought not only her managerial expertise but also her professional fresh tactics and energy to the field. Overall, it was a season filled with memorable moments, significant progress, and a lot of hard work. The team showed incredible resilience and energy, and should be proud of how much they achieved. U15A For U15A, it was a season of ups and downs, demonstrating the players’ resilience and versatility amid challenges. Competing in the 15th
sessions. It was disrupted by illnesses, absences, and
interruptions, forcing the team to train as a mixed group. Indoor sessions and adjustments to accommodate the weather and College commitments further hindered continuity. Illness and injury plagued game days, often leaving the team with a bare minimum of players, and, at one point, fielding just 10 players. This made winning games very difficult. Nevertheless, the players held their own, securing a 2–2 draw against a good Nomads United team and losing games by just a one or two-goal margin. The team played solid football against most opponents, often keeping rivals scoreless for significant stretches but facing challenges. Despite this, it was a valuable learning experience, showcasing team spirit and determination. With a mixture of 1st XI, Development, and younger players, the Ravens might have faced obstacles, but their efforts to adapt and overcome adversity highlighted their resilience and commitment to growth, setting the stage for future improvement. CROWS It was the first year for the Crows, joining the Ravens in 17th Grade 1st Division. It also mixed 1st XI, Development, and younger players.
JUNIOR XI The season was nothing short of thrilling, with moments of brilliance, hard-fought victories, and tough lessons learnt. The boys showed resilience, skill, and determination to compete at the highest level, battling their way to 3rd in the competition and bringing home silverware from the South Island U15 invitational tournament’s Plate Final. The season kicked off with a commanding 13–2 win over Middleton Grange School, setting the tone for a series of impressive victories. Burnside High School provided the first real challenge, but the boys rose to the occasion with a tight 2–1 win. St Andrew’s College and St Thomas were next in line as the team triumphed 1–0 and 6–1, respectively. However, a challenging 0–3 loss to Burnside High School reminded the boys of the intensity required
Sacred Heart College in its first pool game, College beat Napier Boys’ High School and Nelson College to finish 2nd in the pool. In the final 16 round, College put up a huge fight against St Patrick’s College, Wellington and had the better of the game for much of the first half. At 1–1 with eight minutes to go, a small mistake meant that St Patrick’s College went 1–2 up and then 1–3 as College pushed forward in search of equalisers. Running low on energy and hampered by injuries and worsening sickness, College lost its remaining games to Cashmere High School, Hamilton Boys’ High School, and Selwyn College to finish 16th. While it was a tough end having been close to finishing in the top eight at nationals, gaining the top-four spot in the league and holding the Connetics Challenge Shield was not a bad season’s work.
at this level. They bounced back in spectacular style, delivering an attacking masterclass with 11–0 and 6–1 wins over SBHS Junior B and St Andrew’s College, respectively. A 2–3 loss to Middleton Grange followed, but the boys finished the season on a high note, beating St Bede’s College 10–2. Unfortunately, a 0–1 loss to the SBHS Junior XI ended the campaign, leaving the team a well-earned 3rd. The tournament mirrored the ups and downs of the regular season. A heart-wrenching 0–1 loss to Shirley Boys’ High School in a tight opening game set the tone for challenging encounters. A bruising 0-4 loss to Otago Boys’ High School and a 0-1 loss to Southland Boys’ High School tested the team’s resolve. However, the team bounced back with a resounding 8–0 win over Rangiora High School, propelling College into the Plate semi-final. A 6–3 win over
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