Wednesday 13 May 2026
Under very mild conditions at the National Hockey Stadium on the North Shore, our First XI Boys' Hockey team got off to a brilliant start against Westlake Boys' High School.
Max Müller (Year 12, Selwyn) scored his first goal for the College after just 35 seconds, when he dribbled the ball past two defenders and beat the goalkeeper with a reverse stick shot. The euphoria of that goal had hardly died down before Oliver Stewart (Year 12, Marsden) made the score 2-0 in the second minute, following up on a shot from the top of the circle.
This stunned Westlake, and from this point on King’s established early control of the game with slick passing and movement of the ball, keeping Westlake under constant pressure. After nine minutes this high tempo proved too much for the opposition, as Müller brought the score to 3-0 with a well taken field goal. Westlake managed to get on the scoresheet in the 13th minute with a breakaway goal, but not be outdone, King’s hit back straight away with their 4th point — a penalty corner by Tarquin Johnson (Year 13, School), which was particularly pleasing considering our low conversion rate so far this season. After the first quarter King’s were up 4-1, but with three quarters still to go.
The next two quarters were scoreless, with King’s creating a majority of the chances but with Westlake forcing two penalty corners, which were well-defended by Ben Woodhams (Year 13, Selwyn) in goal. In the first minute of the last quarter, Stewart scored his second goal after a telling through-ball deep in the King’s half by Johnson found Niko Huljich (Year 12, Marsden), who proceeded to beat two defenders with great speed, and his cross was deflected in by Stewart at the near post — an incredible goal.
Other notable performances include Charlie Middleton (Year 13, Averill) with his exceptional work rate in the midfield, Edward Mitchelson (Year 13, Marsden) and Henry Fletcher (Year 12, Major) who were solid and dependable in dealing with the Westlake attack.