New coach, Niall Denham
Under the tutelage of new coach, Niall Denham, the boys entered the match coming off of two convincing wins over Macleans College (9-0) and Pukekohe High School (6-3) to kick off the season.
The teams saw a very even first half, with King's having the greater share of circle entries. A penalty corner on the 20th minute saw Grammar take a one-point lead through the rest of the half, however.
The second half began with King's playing their best hockey yet, controlling possession and again having numerous circle entries.
However, Grammar capitalised on the chances they created and scored an additional two goals nearing the end of the match, winning 3-0 and successfully defending the shield for another year.
Despite the unfavourable result, manager Mark Johnston notes that it was a "good test as to where the team is at and a learning experience for a lot of players", boding well for the rest of the hockey season.
