Wednesday 29 April 2026
Prior to the term break both of our First XI teams played their annual pre-season fixture against St Kentigern College.
The First XI girls team have had to replace nine players from last year’s record-breaking team. Coaches Rebecca Baker and Andrew Massey were still in trial mode so their 2-0 win was pleasing given the number of changing combinations.
The First XI boys have also had to replace four players from their 2025 team. Coaches Campbell Stewart and Luke Aldred were keen to get started with this year’s campaign and pre-season training sessions, despite summer sport commitments, had been well attended. The massive 10-0 routing over long time adversaries St Kentigern was a very positive start to the playing season.
Pre-Season Games
Our Boys First XI team travelled to the Sunshine Coast during the first week of the school holidays where they played Sunshine Coast U18, U19 and U23 teams.
Each day was spent training for 1 ½ hours in the morning and playing in the afternoon. The 30-degree heat was draining and one training session had to be abandoned midway due to the intensity of the temperature. Our hosts were fantastic and accommodating, in addition providing stern opposition. The team played five matches over the six days (5-1), (3-1), (0-1), (1-1), (3-2). Every match was hotly contested and valuable lessons were learnt.
Our First XI Girls travelled to Hamilton during the middle of the holiday break to compete at the annual Anzac Festival held at St Paul’s Collegiate. The first day was abandoned due to the cyclone but from the second day the team enjoyed mild weather conditions with a one game reduced playing schedule.
Their first match against Hamilton Girls High School was a one-sided affair in our favour, however numerous scoring chances were squandered for a final 0-0 result. In the afternoon the team played Sacred Heart New Plymouth for a resounding victory. Standing out were newcomers Casey Halliday (Year 11, Marion Bruce) and Isabel Reid (Year 11, Middlemore) as well as Jessie Bickelmann (Year 11, Taylor) who scored twice in the 3-0 win.
The following day the team faced Otumoetai College from Tauranga and although going down 5-2 the coaches were pleased the team continued their striking momentum with goals to Charlotte Ray (Year 13, Taylor) and Alexis Tree (Year 12, Taylor).
The final game of the festival was played against Mount Maunganui College. The team played superbly in all areas of the field and the 3-0 result came courtesy of goals from Charlotte Ray, Casey Halliday and Zoe Driscoll (Year 13, Middlemore). Also standing out were newcomers Coco Morton (Year 11, Taylor), Coco Alpe (Year 11, Middlemore) and veteran midfielder Luca Morton (Year 13, Taylor).
There were lots of positives from the festival including confirmation that the latest cohort of female hockey talent entering the school is significantly strong. We wish both teams the best