Wednesday 19 August 2026
On a sunny (but cool) day, King’s travelled to Rangitoto to play for a place in the Knockout Cup Final against St Kentigern College. Either way, history was going to be made. King’s were looking to reach their first ever Knockout Cup Final.
King’s had the luxury of resting certain players on Friday, while Rangitoto had narrowly lost out in a promotion battle with Liston College. The game started frantically, with King’s showing more energy and pressing well. A flurry of corners in the opening five minutes created some great opportunities for King’s, but the ball just wouldn’t bounce our way.
However, with six minutes on the clock, Jayden Wang (Year 13, Peart) pressed the goalkeeper well and forced him into a mistake. The ball rolled kindly to the feet of top scorer Lucca Stredder (Year 13, Parnell, who calmly slotted home to give King’s an early lead. A tight affair ensued, but no more goals were scored in the first half.
In the second half, King’s once again showed plenty of heart and desire. Defending crosses, throwing bodies in front of shots, winning important duels and creating chances of our own.
A typical semi final played out in the second half, with both teams desperate not to make a mistake. And so, after three minutes of injury time, the referee called an end to the game, King's had done it securing a fantastic victory that leaves King’s still in the hunt for three trophies with three weeks remaining.
Playing against St Kentigern College, unbeaten in the A1 division and already crowned champions, now awaits and next Wednesday we welcome Auckland Grammar School to King’s.
We lost the Shield last year, so the team is keen to bring it home this time.