Napier get their name on the shield

TOURNAMENT HOSTS: The Gisborne Boys’ High School Super 8 badminton team were (from left) Jesse Russell, Taine Pirini, Sean Molloy, Rongo Sofyan-Paea, Luke Stoltenberg, Peter Simmonds (Sport Co-ordinator GBHS) and Ryan Robinson. Picture supplied

BADMINTON

NAPIER Boys’ High School won the Super 8 badminton competition hosted by Gisborne Boys’ High School at the Badminton Centre.

This will be the first time Napier’s name has gone on the shield presented to the tournament winners.

In second place were Palmerston North Boys’ High A, who have dominated the competition since 2000, with 13 tournament wins. Hamilton Boys’ High have had 14 wins.

Competition was in a round-robin format, with each team playing every other team. Each tie comprised two doubles and 4 singles matches.

Gisborne Boys’ High School were represented by Jesse Russell, Luke Stoltenberg, Ryan Robinson, Rongo Sofyan-Paea, Taine Pirini and Sean Molloy. It was their first major competition, and they performed well against some experienced players.

Highlights were the two-game wins for Jesse Russell in the top singles against Hastings Boys’ High, for Taine Pirini in the match against the No.4 boy from Hamilton, and for Sean Molloy in the match against the No.4 boy from New Plymouth.

Thanks go to Gisborne Boys’ High School sport co-ordinator Peter Simmons, referee Linda White, and Gisborne Boys’ High students Neo Laidlaw-May and Zhi Botton, who inputted data in the control room.

Kahu Brown kept the matches going as stadium controller and Badminton Eastland’s cleaner Sonia Jones made sure the hall was immaculate throughout.

On the Thursday night, all teams attended the tournament’s formal dinner at the Cosmopolitan Club. Guest speaker Maika Akroyd inspired the boys with the story of her journey from Gisborne Girls’ High School to her recent graduation with a communications degree gained under a four-year scholarship to Boston University through her sport of hockey.

Next year’s Super 8 badminton tournament will be hosted by Napier Boys’ High School.

Results —

Napier Boys’ High School defeated Palmerston North Boys’ High A 3 matches all, 7 games to 6; def Hamilton Boys’ High 4-2; def Palmerston North Boys’ High B 6-0; def New Plymouth Boys’ High 6-0; def Tauranga Boys’ College 6-0; def Hastings Boys’ High 5-1; def Gisborne Boys’ High 6-0.

Palmerston North Boys’ High A def Hamilton Boys’ High 6-0; def Palmerston North Boys’ High B 6-0; def New Plymouth Boys’ High 6-0; def Tauranga Boys’ College 6-0; def Hastings Boys’ High 6-0; def Gisborne Boys’ High 6-0.

Hamilton Boys’ High def Palmerston North Boys’ High B 6-0; def New Plymouth Boys’ High 4-2; def Tauranga Boys’ College 5-1; def Hastings Boys’ High 6-0; def Gisborne Boys’ High 5-1.

Palmerston North Boys’ High B def New Plymouth Boys’ High 4-2; def Tauranga Boys’ College 4-2; def Hastings Boys’ High 4-2; def Gisborne Boys’ High 6-0.

New Plymouth Boys’ High def Tauranga Boys’ College 3 matches all, 7 games all, 260pts to 203; def Hastings Boys’ High 5-1; def Gisborne Boys’ High 5-1.

Tauranga Boys’ College def Hastings Boys’ High 4-2; def Gisborne Boys’ High 4-2.

Hastings Boys’ High def Gisborne Boys’ High 5-1.