Otumoetai College
Our first XV took on Taupo Nui-a-Tia and needed to win to cement their position in the Baywide semifinal.
Played in good conditions the game was marred by some unsavoury play with a red and yellow card issued to the visitors. Mark Nicholls, Neal Redward and Ryan Brown all had outstanding games. With good local support we wish our team the best for their semifinal to be held in Whakatane against Trident.
The junior boys first XI soccer team remain unbeaten this season, having secured a win against previously unbeaten Tauranga Boys junior A 1-0 last week and following it up with a 4-1 victory over the Mount.
Hero of the win over Tauranga Boys was goalkeeper Harris Edlin, who saved a penalty to ensure the victory thanks to a typically determined Jim van der Vorm goal. The Mount game showed each player at their best with Hayden Neale, Daniel Smith, Nathan Wilson and Jim van der Vorm again appearing on the scoresheet.
Another wet week for netball saw games cancelled.
Following on from their outstanding performance last week, the girls' hockey first XI triumphed over the Mount women's team. The second XI hockey boys had another win over Te Puke's first XI 6-4, not really reflecting Otumoetai's dominance from the second part of the first half to the end of the game.
Success is attributed to a strong team game with a balanced level of individual brilliance. The goals were the result of a strong connection between defenders and midfield players.
Goals were set up by many and finished by Jack Dey and Sheldon Melgren with two each and one each to Nick Mowlem and Josh Grey. The strength of the fast moving and controlled team play by the boys is what has led to their success.
The boys' junior team had a good 2-1 win against Tauranga Boys Gold. It was great to see the boys really linking together as a team and getting the passes to their destinations.
Our girls' first XI football played Aquinas College. A slow start to the first half saw our girls come out strong in the second trying to claw back the two-goal deficit. Two goals in the second half by Brooke Matheson was not quite enough to take the game, losing 3-2. Marika Watt was a standout in the midfield.
The senior boys basketball played Bethlehem College and had a good win. It took a while to get into the game with Theo Johnson the standout. It was good to see captain Alma Ormsby back after an injury layoff.
The senior girls had a close fought match with Aquinas, with only a couple of points in it. Well done to Alex Keating on her ability to play well alongside coaching our junior girls team. The junior A boys and girls both played Bethlehem College, each displaying good skills to win by large margins. Jack Neale was strong for the boys.
In the Baywide competition, our boys placed second with the girls fifth.
Over the past weekend Matthew Kriel participated in the surf lifesaving Eastern Region pool championships in Hamilton . He was first in the under-16 men's 4 x 50m medley relay, first in the open men's 4 x 50m obstacle relay and second in the under-19 men's 4 x 25m manikin relay.
Rugby is now at semifinals and the Otumoetai College first XV has had a successful two weeks. In the match on July 28 Otumoetai put in a massive second spell against Mount Maunganui College first XV, scoring 35 points. Mark Nicholls lead the forwards as captain and Matt Ensor had a blinder at No8, scoring two tries.
The final score of 39-3 showed how dominant Otumoetai College's first XV was.
On August 4, Otumoetai College hosted Taupo Nui A Tia in a must-win game to determine the semifinal rankings. The team put on a solid game in both halves. Jordan Tahere scored three tries and is in his best form of the season. Ethan Russell and Troy Webber are massive parts of the forward pack. Ethan Russell showed awareness and speed to set up Ryan Brown for a try under posts with a well worked No8 move.
Keegan Long's kicking ability has always been noted as an asset and again his ability to put Otumoetai in the right places was excellent. The 28-10 win over Taupo was well received by the supporters present.
Aquinas College
The Cooper brothers, James and Luke, have made a name for themselves over the past week at the New Zealand squash championships.
The Aquinas College students both ended the competition in New Plymouth successfully. Year 13 student James came away the winner of Division 1, while his younger brother won the Special Plate in Division 2.
Meanwhile, Aquinas College's premier netball team are through to the semifinals in the local competition this is the first time in Aquinas' netball history.
Six members of the team were in Bay of Plenty under-15 and under-17 age-group netball teams that went away to tournament during the last school holidays. These players were Ellie McManaway (under-15), Lauren Dennehy, Alice McFall, Charlotte Skelton, Ngaraima Te Kanawa and Courtney McManaway (under-17), who was named in the tournament team at her event. Other members of the Aquinas College premier team are Megan Anderson, Sophie Urbanc, Courtney Wilson and Charlotte Curach (capt).
The team will be competing in the Baywide secondary school tournament on August 19 and 26 in preparation for the Upper North Island secondary school tournament (UNISS) held during Winter tournament week (September 3-7).
The Aquinas championships in badminton have been held over the last few Wednesdays and the following students have emerged winners - Daniel Hughes is senior boys' champion, brothers Hamish and Patrick Low are intermediate and junior boys' champions and Breanna Brooker is the girls' champion.
In the doubles' events, Daniel Hughes and Chris Cavell took out top honours, with Hamish Low and Sam Dyer winning at intermediate level.
Bethlehem College
The annual Festival of Hockey was held last week with six visiting teams providing excellent competition for our boys and girls teams as they prepare for tournament week.
On Thursday, Bethlehem played Western Heights and after a tight first half we were leading 1-0. The second half was all BC as we scored a further five goals in rapid succession.
The next game against Hauraki Plains College was much closer. Only a successful penalty corner five minutes before the end allowed us to get home 2-1. The girls' last game was against longtime rivals and great supporters of our festival, Gisborne High School.
This year, it was our turn to win the McDougall Trophy, as three great goals from Kate Porter and a neat deflection by Brianna Booth saw us comfortably home 4-0. The boys also came close to winning their competition by winning two and losing one of their games.
With no final possible this year, the trophy had to be decided on a countback of goal difference. Both teams are looking forward to their second tier tournaments with the boys going to the India Shield in Pukekohe and the girls to the Marie Fry Tournament in Whangarei.
Last week, we also enjoyed a junior sports exchange with Kings Way School, Orewa. Despite the challenging conditions, great games of hockey, football, basketball, touch and netball were enjoyed.
The other major highlight of the week is the success of the first XV rugby. They played Western Heights and won 29-22 in very difficult conditions. Michael Booth scored two tries, Cameron Gerlach and Bede Murray scored one each. Matthew Cole kicked well and converted three out of the four tries and also scored a penalty kick.
This success means that we are now the top of the table for division one and are in the semifinals this weekend with a home game against John Paul College. - Bethany Garland, Sport Council.
Mt Maunganui College
Congratulations to the boys' second XV rugby team and the under-15 team who have both played their way into the semifinals this weekend in the premiership round of the Baywide champs.
The second XV will play Tauranga Boys' College under-15 A and the under-15s play Opotiki away. The under-15s played Opotiki last weekend and drew 24-all in an even match. Mount ran in three tries which were great team efforts and Leighton Fowler converted them all and slotted a penalty, taking Mount to 24-14.
One of our key players came off injured and Opotiki came back at us in the last ten minutes, putting two tries on the board for the draw. Both teams showed great defence and attacking skills and it will be another closely contested game this Saturday vying for a finals berth.
Friday night netball was washed out so those games are re-scheduled for this Friday night, but the Saturday division completed their final rounds and are through to semifinals this Saturday. Good luck to 9 Karaka, 9 Kakariki and 10 Kauri.
The girls' first XI football team had a great game against Tauranga Girls first X1 holding them to 1-0 at the end of the first half and conceding only one more goal in the second half to lose 2-0. A much-improved match for the girls who played a great team game and kept the scoring tight.
Our annual Lynfield Sports exchange was held in Auckland on Monday with 11 teams travelling to contest the annual trophy. The day's results were not in our favour with the trophy handed over to Lynfield this year.
The boys' first XV rugby had an even match but came away with an 8-5 win with the winning try scored by Daniel Edwards. It is always a great feeling to win the rugby.
The mixed waterpolo and golf also had good wins, girls' football and hockey teams both drew so the final points tally was 7-4.
Katikati College
Last week the Intermediate girls' hockey team played Otumoetai Hot Sticks and won 6-0. Joanna Hovmand scored three goals and on Friday they played Tauranga Intermediate B and won 2-0. At times the turf looked like a lake but the girls adapted well to the conditions with accurate short passes and awesome team work.
The intermediate mixed team played Aquinas College and won 2-1, then played Te Puke Intermediate and won 5-0. Last Friday they played Omokoroa Point and won 5-1. After a seven-a-side tournament next Friday they will progress through to the semi finals.
The girls' first XI hockey team played Te Puke last Monday and after a tough first half the game was cancelled due to flooding and the girls came out with a win 1-0. They played Tauranga Girls' the following night and won 3-2.
Rugby: On Saturday the Katikati first XV played Tauranga Boys College thirds. With a muddy field only five tries were scored and the Katikati boys won comfortably 27-0 to finish on top of the second division. Great effort, boys. Katikati hosts Reporoa this week in the the semifinals at Moore Park.
The week before the team played Whakatane at Whakatane. Without a full team the boys played well, with Vasini Uilou scoring three tries to put us on top 36-0 at halftime. Our discipline let us down in the second half, giving away tries but still coming away with a win 48-28.
Tauranga Girls' College
Congratulations to Moana Whare, Rebecca Hughes and Makayla Daysh. These girls have excelled in basketball and have all been invited to trial for the national under-age group teams for 2013, an excellent achievement.
Many football games were cancelled in the weekend but the first XI played their game despite the miserable weather. The sodden pitch made things difficult for them against Mount Maunganui College first XI and it was a close game, but they came out on top, 2-0.
The hockey first XI won their game last week, beating Otumoetai United 3-0.
The senior girls basketball team also did well during the week, winning their game against Waihi senior girls by a significant margin.