Hockey First Elevens

 

 

2020 Hockey 1^st row; Jack Aubin, Zach Diehl, Zeke Buschl (Captain), Henry King, Joe French

2^nd row; Ben Sowman, Hugh Askerud, Sammy Johnson, Chris MacDonald, Adam Greenfield, Jacob Smith

3^rd row; James Nicolson, Ocean Alleman, Patrick Ward

Absent; Mr Dave Ross (Coach) Kjell Daufenbach, Harry Mason

The King’s High School 1^st XI had another successful year in 2020. After losing six key players of our 2019 Rankin Cup championship side, we welcomed several new young players, all of whom were eager to make the step up into premier schoolboy hockey. After an undefeated season in the Otago Competition where we played over ten games without loss, we left for tournament in Christchurch, where we hoped to stamp out another triumphant effort. Due to Covid restrictions, the national Rankin Cup could not go ahead so we were determined to perform well in the South Island replacement tournament, where a majority of the high calibre teams and players would be attending.Our first two games were Southern darbies, where we had two decisive victories against Otago Boys’ and Southland Boys’, 5-0 and 5-1 respectively. These games saw plenty of goals scored, with James Nicolson and Sammy Johnson both leading the top goal scoring tally after day one.

Next up was Burnside High, where we were able to put on a goal scoring clinic. In wet and windy Christchurch conditions, we were able to dominate the game, scoring nine goals to further our position as the top goal scoring team of the tournament. Even more importantly to us, we continued our run of limiting the amount of goals we conceded, a statistic we would be proud to champion throughout the tournament.

Our final two games of pool play saw us battle two of the Canterbury heavy weights and tournament favourites: St Andrew’s College and Christ’s College. These games were intense and challenging and saw some of the best players from Canterbury stack up against some of Otago’s own. The results were a 5-1 win over St Andrew’s, and a 4-1 win over Christ’s. Notable performances came from Patrick Ward and Zeke Buschl who dominated the midfield in these games and shut down any attack from our opponents. These results placed us top of the pool, with an unquestionable spot in the tournament final.

The South Island Premiership final had us playing Christchurch Boys’ High School. After an early goal from each side, much of the game was spent locked up at 1-1. The last game of a tournament is always a hard one for the body and this was no exception. Where throughout the week we had been a classy and clinical outfit, the final was a battle. Grit and determination saw us through, however, with an interception from Patrick Ward setting up James Nicolson for a game winner in the dying minutes of the game. With further outstanding defence from Ocean Alleman, Harry Mason and Zeke Buschl, the game was sealed, and King’s won their second championship in two years.

2021 Hockey HOCKEY 1ST XI

1ST ROW Joe French, Scott Greenfield, Patrick Ward, Jacob Smith, Aiden Broome, Ben Nicol

2ND ROW Oram Gutsell, Harry Mason, Sammy Johnson, Hugh Askerud, Mr Ross

3RD ROW Henry King, Sam Glossop, Jack Aubin, Alex MacDonald, Lachie Penrose, Zach Diehl

ABSENT Alex Burleigh.

Games

The introduction of the new King’s Turf was monumental for our season.

V John McGlashen   win

V Otago Boys’ win

Rankin Cup. Cancelled by the Covid-19 lockdown

2022 Hockey HOCKEY 1ST X1

2ND ROW: Cameron Laing, Jack Aubin, Charles McIvor, Alexander MacDonald, Alexander Burleigh, James Broderick, Zachary Diehl, Mr Greenfield (Coach)

1ST ROW: Scott Greenfield, Edward Cottle, Max Holgate, Oram Gutsell, Aidan Broome, Joseph French, Marley Bennett.

ABSENT: Henry King (Captain), Declan Viljoen