Thursday 6 March 2025
Friday 21 February:
King’s vs Sacred Heart College (SHC) – 11-11 Draw
The team fronted up to SHC after a long afternoon in the sun for what has traditionally been a game where we ‘try out best’ and face a massive deficit (24-3 was our 2024 result). With two loud supporting groups setting a deafening atmosphere, King’s scored first with SHC equalising the next play. From then on King’s had full control for the remainder of the quarter finishing with a rare 3-1 lead at the break with goals to Max Norwell (Year 12, Greenbank) and Harry Lambert-Irwin (Year 13, Parnell). The second half felt more ‘normal’ as SHC ran rampant putting three unanswered goals on a befuddled defence, but Max Norwell broke the deficit with three goals himself, both from his own magic along with a converted penalty earned by Zach Gleeson (Year 11, Averill). Half time saw King’s with a slim 6-4 lead.
The third quarter had King’s continue the momentum with Max and Zach again scoring for a breath-taking 8-4 lead that had SHC in total disarray. Luck, or skill didn’t hold King’s way much longer and SHC found two quick goals to bring it back to 8-6. Zach and Harry found the net once more each before the third quarter break for a 10-6 lead.
Then the 4th quarter happened…and several boys will wish to take moments back after what happened in that period of play. SHC capitalised on two defensive detours from the game plan, received a donation pass from our GK, intercepted a pass on attack that they countered and scored from followed by a steal that lead to another goal. Max Norwell’s solitary King’s goal in the 4th quarter gave us just enough buffer to end with a draw as SHC equalised with 25 seconds left in the game. For equivalence of what happened in the 4th quarter, imagine a cricket team needing 30 runs off the final over to win a game, and doing it with 2 balls to spare.
Would haves, could haves and should haves aside, the draw is an outstanding result considering the history of 20-goal drubbings and the powerful team SHC have. Our first points against SHC since 2016!
Sunday 23 February:
King’s vs Rosmini – 14-9 Win
After a head-turning and conversation topic draw against SHC, backing up strongly against Rosmini was imperative. Poor attention to basics let Rosmini stay in the game far too long, but a strong final 3 minutes gave us a strong win. This game is best summarised by putting in the scoreboard changes with King’s on the left side:
1st Quarter: 1-0 (Harry), 2-0 (Cooper Searle (Year 12, Greenbank)), 2-1, 3-1 (Max).
2nd Quarter: 3-2, 4-2 (Harry), 4-3, 5-3 (Max), 6-3 (Max)
3rd Quarter: 6-4, 6-5, 7-5 (Max), 7-6, 8-6 (Max), 9-6 (Charlie Middleton (Year 12, Averill)), 10-6 (Max)
4th Quarter: 10-7, 10-8, 10-9, 11-9 (Max, and even more deja vu), 12-9 (Harry), 13-9 (Harry), 14-9 (Zach).
It was a game well finished and where superior fitness and strength from centre-backs Harry Irwin, Henry Wagstaff (Year 13, Averill), Finlay Crawford (Year 11, Peart) and Charlie Robertson worked the opposition centre forward into an injury which helped open up the game at the back end.
A huge team effort.
Friday 28 February:
King's vs Auckland Grammar – 9-5 win
King’s came out with a hiss and a roar against Auckland Grammar (AGS) quickly going up to a 3-0 lead in front of a packed house of supporters. AGS clawed 1 back for a 3-1 end-of-first-quarter score. The 2nd quarter had King’s continue the blistering offence to find ourselves at 5-1 ahead with Emre Soydinc (Year 13, Averill) having a standout game in goal. AGS managed another solitary goal in the 2nd and halftime was a lovely looking 5-2 scoreline to King’s.
The third quarter was a much tighter battle with only Zach finding the net for King’s and Emre having a flawless quarter for 6-2 going into the final quarter. Henry, Max and Zach tore shreds off the AGS team in the 4th quarter in what was becoming a demolition job and a 9-3 scoreline with 3 minutes left. With the starters resting and soaking up the moment, the bench crew continued to attack but couldn’t quite manage to score and AGS clawed back 2 consolation goals for a final score of 9-5.
This is the first time King’s has beaten AGS and becomes rather fitting that the new cup has King’s on it first, with Ben as a coach of the winning team.
Sunday 2 March:
King’s vs Westlake – 11-10 win
A game of two halves and one that got the grey hairs coming on early. King’s rocked out to a 3-0 start where Westlake looked befuddled and out of their league. Lapses on defence allowed Westlake to stay in the contest for a 4-2 scoreline at the end of the first quarter. From here on things became very rocky. Multiple contra-fouls against King’s on attack meant we scrambled on defence and got caught short under huge pressure giving Westlake a 6-5 lead and an eventual halftime score of 6-6.
The break allowed the team to collect themselves after some confusing calls and take back the lead 9-8 going into the final quarter. Calls again went against King’s and Harry was fouled out of the game early in the fourth quarter and George Crawford (Year 13, Peart) soon followed Harry to the bench after being fouled out of the game.
Westlake crept up 10-9 with the King’s team in total disarray. With little time remaining, Henry, Ethan Mathewson (Year 13, Parnell), Zach, Charlie, Cooper and Finlay played outstandingly well and continued to execute the game plan with Max finishing 2 plays to sneak out an ugly but well-fought 11-10 win. Max and Harry were the only 2 goal scorers in the King’s team this game, with Max having a sensational game.