WHS hockey sides start well
WHS 1st X1 boys hockey captain Jordan Cohen takes control during his side's 3-0 win over Wanganui Collegiate during Founders Cup play during Tournament Week in Palmerston North.
PHOTO / Cindy Hoskin
Whanganui Secondary Schools are in the thick of Tournament Week competing in multiple sporting codes with varying degrees of success.
However, few have been more successful than the Whanganui High School 1st XI boys' and girls' hockey teams in their respective competitions.
The WHS girls were unbeaten in the first two days of play at the Chica Gilmer Trophy tournament at Rosa Birch Park in Pukekohe beating Auckland schools Rosehill College 3-1, Botany Downs 11-1 and Avondale 3-0 to make the Top 8. They were to play Rangitoto College late yesterday aiming to make the semifinals today and hopefully the final tomorrow.
Coached by Melissa Goff, the girls' 1st XI features a number of class players, including Rebecca Baker who has just been selected to attend the New Zealand under-18 women's development camp to be held December 15-21. Captained by Jacinta Manville, the side also includes Baker's younger sister Charlotte, who is also getting noticed.
The WHS boys' 1st XI also made the Top 8 quarter-finals after two days of unbeaten play at the Founders Cup tournament in Palmerston North.
This team is captained by Jordan Cohen who was also selected for the New Zealand under-18 men's development camp and subsequently for NHL duty. The side also features Cohen's Central under-18 teammate Patrick Madder.
The lads are seeking to return to Rankin Cup/India Shield level after being demoted for finishing in the bottom six of that competition last year.
Manager Darrell Hoskin said they were making a great fist of things with two wins and a draw after day two.
"We beat Wanganui Collegiate 3-0, then drew 1-all with Hutt International before beating Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata from Auckland 3-0. We drew a tough pool, but still aiming to make the finals and ultimately return to Rankin Cup level," Hoskin said.
The WHS A1 netball girls have had mixed fortunes.
Tackling Tournament Week competition in Palmerston North after finishing third in both the Netball Whanganui Premier A1 competition and the Manawatu secondary schools championships, was always going to be a tough effort.
However, they began on Monday with a 46-23 win over Tawa College, followed by a 30-20 loss to New Plymouth Girls High on Tuesday morning before bouncing back for a close 31-27 victory over Queen Margaret College from Wellington in the afternoon.
The Wanganui Collegiate girls 1st XI hockey team have fared well, winning three from four encounters after day two on Tuesday.
They began with a whopping 7-1 win over Mt Albert Grammar in the Jenny Hair Trophy competition at the Trust House Hockey Complex in Carterton, followed by a 3-0 win over Pakuranga College. They only loss by the end of day two was a close 2-1 encounter with Marsden.
Play in these and other sporting codes during Tournament Week continue through until the weekend.
By Iain Hyndman
Wanganui Chronicle 6/9/18
