Tuesday 8 September 2026
Held in Dunedin, our Boys' 1st XI Hockey team played across five days at the 2026 Rankin Cup — coming away with a historic win-streak under their belts and lifelong memories!
Staff attending: Mark Johnston and Simon Norton
Day One
Game One
It was customary weather in Dunedin for the Rankin Cup with a sideways Antarctic gale, a sudden flurry of horizontal snow with the odd ray of sunshine all of which made for the production of the new hockey drama series “Four Seasons and the Penalty Corner”.
The temperature at the ground was 5 degrees but it didn’t long for King’s to warm things up with a brilliant move which you would do in training (with no opposition) with Tarquin Johnson (Year 13, School) diving to get the final touch. Then late in the first quarter Charlie Middleton (Year 13, Averill) took over the PC duties and rifled a shot past the helpless goalkeeper to make it 2-0. Further well taken goals by Miller Lash (Year 11, Selwyn) and another field goal by Johnson put the game beyond Napier by the half-time break which was shortened with both teams wanting to get on with the game and not stand around. Goals from Freddy Abeysekera (Year 12, Major) and another two from Tarquin Johnson completed the scoring.
Special mention of the defensive work by Henry Fletcher (Year 12, Major) and Ed Mitchelson (Year 13, Marsden) who have so often held things together at the back. These were very challenging conditions which the team adjusted to, still playing some exciting hockey.
Final score: King's 7 vs 0 Napier Boys' High School
Game Two
The temperature was a mere 3 degrees for the 7pm game against Cambridge High School and the latter started well scoring a field goal in the 3rd minute. Cambridge were definitely up for the challenge especially having lost their first pool game. King’s struggled to breakdown their half court defensive structure, and on most occasions Cambridge had all 11 players behind the ball.
Tarquin Johnson drew King’s level with a superb penalty corner that hit the roof of the net, and this was closely followed by a clever reverse stick shot by Miller Lash to make it 2-1 at half-time. Jacob Waters (Year 11, Selwyn) got his first goal with an aerial deflection at the far post and had a very good game all round with a lot of intelligent running. Jack Harper (Year 13, Marsden) worked hard also and scored a field goal in the final minute to make it 4-1. This was a tough game not only with the conditions, but the stubborn Cambridge defence and their ability to counter attack.
Final score: King's 4 vs 1 Cambridge High School
Day Two
Game Three
What a change from yesterday, with mild conditions and even some bright sunshine!
King’s dominated the possession and opened the scoring in the 10th minute with the customary PC from Tarquin Johnson. Oliver Stewart (Year 12, Marsden) looked particularly threatening and made a couple of deep runs into the St Bedes half setting up several opportunities for other strikers. On the stroke of half-time, another PC from Johnson doubled the advantage. At this stage of the game King’s started to just hold onto the ball and patiently passed around the back four defenders waiting for St Bedes to try and get the ball off them.
Late in the third quarter after holding onto the ball for well over 2 minutes, a long pass from Ed Mitchelson found Johnson on the left hand side who then spotted Oliver Stewart free by the base line, who beat a couple of defenders before setting up Tarquin Johnson for the easiest tap ins to make it 3-0.
Once again a lot of the younger players (all Year 11) showed promise with Miller Lash, Henri Lem (Year 11, School) and Jacob Waters all growing in confidence with each game. For the 4th quarter Tadhg Hellriegel (Year 9 Marsden) made his First XI debut in goal and made a couple of good saves from PC’s.
Also in yesterday’s game Henry Fletcher played his 75th appearance for the First XI – an incredible achievement for a Year 12 student.
Final score: King's 3 vs 0 St Bede's College
Day Three
Game Four
King’s vs Grammar games have always been closely fought and this game was no exception. Having beaten them twice already this season, the pressure was on the side to perform when it really mattered at the National Tournament. There was a significant contrast in weather conditions with Mother Nature going from ‘Antarctica’ to ‘summer survival mode’ overnight — sunscreen, shade and water were required!
In the first quarter, King’s had the majority of chances with a couple of penalty corners that were well defended by the Grammar goalkeeper. In the third minute of the second quarter the deadlock was broken when a long ball from Ed Mitchelson found Oliver Stewart on the base line who skilfully beat the goalkeeper from a very tight angle before pushing the ball towards the goal where Jacob Waters got the final touch. However, it didn’t take long for Grammar to reply with two quick goals and take the lead firstly with a penalty corner and then with a deflection from a tight angle. There was a definite momentum swing, with Grammar now pressing the King’s circle and confidently holding possession.
In the seventh minute of the third quarter, King’s equalised with the customary penalty corner flick from Tarquin Johnson and it was now a battle of attrition as to which team had the desire and the fitness to win the game. In the third minute of the final quarter King’s took the lead when Oliver Stewart made his now regular menacing circle entry and won a penalty corner but excellent umpiring played advantage and the ball fell to Max Müller (Year 12, Selwyn) who pushed it under the advancing Grammar goalkeeper. The remainder of the quarter was hectic with Grammar pressing forward and putting a lot of pressure on the King’s goal. Furthermore, this was accentuated by poor discipline with two players in the bin and off the field for vital minutes.
Nevertheless, the side held on to win 3-2.
Final score: King's 3 vs 2 Auckland Grammar School
Day Four
Game Five
From the start King’s had the majority of the possession and were very patient in their build-up. In the first few minutes they went close with a penalty corner and a deflection at close range. However in the 10th minute the deadlock was broken after a very skilful run down the baseline by Oliver Stewart saw his cross put away by Jacob Waters for his third goal of the tournament.
In the second quarter, King’s struck twice with a Tarquin Johnson PC and a superb field goal by Oliver Stewart to take a 3-0 lead. Tauranga did strike back early in the third quarter with a field goal, but from then on King’s denied them the ball with a very structured and patient passing game.
Two more PC’s by Tarquin Johnson in the fourth quarter put the game beyond doubt with a 5-1 final score. Oliver Stewart was in outstanding form with his tight skills causing havoc in the opposition circle. Also very good performances at the back by Ian Mitchelson and Henry Fletcher.
Final score: King's 5 vs 1 Tauranga Boys' College
Day Five
Game Six: Semi-Final
Once again the Dunedin climate couldn’t make its mind up as to whether it was summer or winter with bright sunshine and horizontal rain.
Both sides won their quarter finals convincingly with Hamilton Boys’ beating St Kents 6-1. Throughout the tournament Hamilton had scored a lot of goals through their PC routine in particular with their drag flicker. Early encounters were dominated by King’s with Charlie Middleton coming close in the very first minute.
The deadlock was broken in the 11th minute by Tarquin Johnson with his customary PC but it didn’t long for Hamilton to reply in similar fashion. By the end of the first quarter the contrasting styles of hockey were evident with King’s playing a very patient game with a slow buildup from the back followed by a sudden passing movement whilst Hamilton were more direct and looked to constantly push forward.
King’s regained the lead in the 9th minute of the second quarter with a well worked PC which Tarquin Johnson finished off. They extended their lead after another great run from Oliver Stewart was followed by a scramble in front of the goal where Jack Harper put the ball in the net. Early in the second quarter Hamilton got their second goal from a PC and were pressing hard for the equaliser. However the King’s defence held firm and great goalkeeping by Ben Woodhams accompanied by some courageous PC defence from first runner Charlie Middleton kept Hamilton at bay securing a place in the final against Westlake Boys' High School in the final at 2.30pm tomorrow.
Final score: King's 3 vs 2 Hamilton Boys' High School
Day Six
Game Seven: Rankin Cup Final
The Boys’ First XI Hockey finished off a great season by winning the Rankin Cup and becoming national champions!
For Hockey, secondary schools tournament week is contested by over 309 teams in a tiered structure. The Rankin Cup (Tier 1 Boys) is the pinnacle event and can take schools several years to qualify to play at this event.
On Hockey NZTV the event was watched live-stream by over 180,000 viewers.
As was fitting for the occasion there was huge crowd at the Dunedin MacMillan Hockey Centre. Old Collegians were very evident on the side-line as well as parents and other family members. The conditions were perfect for this the pinnacle of schoolboy hockey in New Zealand and with a lot of players in the bronze medal winning team of 2024 there was a steely determination amongst group – ‘we’ve been here before and we know what it is like to miss out’
King’s dominated the possession in the early stages and the game was being played like a game of chess with each team using coordinated pressing to force their opponent into turning over the ball. In the 13th minute of the first quarter King’s broke the deadlock with a well worked PC involving a series of passes finally finished off by Tarquin Johnson. But against the run of play Westlake equalised in the third quarter with a field goal and buoyed by this started to regularly threaten the King’s circle and won many PC’s. However the King’s defence stood firm were able to subdue the onslaught.
King’s took back the lead In the 12th minute of the third quarter when Charlie Middleton picked up the ball just outside the Westlake 23 metre line and made a skilful run down the right wing before crossing the ball into the circle where Miller Lash made a superb deflection that saw the ball go into the roof of the net. However in the final play of the third quarter Westlake won a series of corners and from a scramble in front of goal drew level. The score was 2-2 going into the final quarter and with both sides tiring it ended up going to a shootout.
King’s won the shootout 3-2 after the scores were tied 2-2 at full time!
As in the Auckland Final against Westlake, Ben Woodhams (Year 13, Selwyn) in goal showed great skill in denying three of the Westlake penalty takers.
Final score: King's 3 vs 2 Westlake Boys' High School
It is a moment that will become part of King’s hockey history. For the first time since 2012, the Rankin Cup is back at King's College. The victory caps a remarkable season for the 1st XI, who have claimed the Auckland Premier Championship, Grammar Shield and now the Rankin Cup. Even more significantly, 2026 marks just the third time in King’s history that our boys have won both the Auckland Premier Championship and Rankin Cup in the same season — following the achievements of 1993 and 2011. This is, however, their seventh Rankin Cup!
In a beautiful piece of King’s hockey history, this year’s triumph has a special generational connection. Old Collegian Dr Barnaby Clark (Peart, 1989–93) was a member of the 1st XI team that won both the Rankin Cup and Auckland Premier Championship in 1993. More than three decades later, his son, Adam Clark (Year 11, Peart), helped the 2026 1st XI lift the very same trophy.
From one generation to the next, the King’s hockey legacy continues. A huge congratulations to our players, coaches, managers and everyone who has supported the team throughout an incredible season.
What a team. What a season. What a moment in King’s history.