Ritana win secondary school title

TOP SCHOOL: The Ritana team from Lytton High School won Poverty Bay Hockey’s Division 1 secondary school championship this week. They are, standing (from left): Louise Teneti (coach), Caleb Collier, Aera Lloyd, Kris Matete, Connor Isaac, Luke Sanders, Piri Orotaunga (captain), Ollie Moss and Lachlan Vause (goalie coach). Kneeling: Anihera Whaanga-Smith, Kelsey Teneti, Samantha Durston, Jordan Teneti, Maia Rickard and Ariana Renata. Lying on the ground is goalie Dylan Dyer.Picture supplied

POVERTY Bay Hockey’s secondary school grade finished on Monday night and the first 11 Ritana team from Lytton High School emerged the winners of a hard-fought Division 1 final against Gisborne Boys’ High School.

Ritana won the match 3-2, with goals from Piri Orotaunga, Jordan Teneti and Maia Rickard.

Boys’ High scored through Brett Hockey and Matthew Pepere.

Ritana came into the semifinals in third place.

In the final, the whole team worked tirelessly for 60 minutes to pull off the upset of the season.

At the Poverty Bay Hockey Association prize-giving last weekend, Piri Orotaunga was named male player of the year. Kelsey Teneti, also from Ritana, was given the Upshot Memorial Trophy for contribution to hockey by a person under 16.

Ritana coach Louise Teneti was named joint community coach of the year.

The Boys’ High second 11 won the Division 2 final 1-0, against Gisborne High Schools Combined.

The scorer was Rhadhan Stratton.

In the Division 2 third/fourth playoff, Maui Te Wananga beat Gisborne Girls’ High School (2) 11-0. Charlie Brown scored five goals, Zane Tuhou scored three, and Allies Rangihuna, Tegan Brown and Jayden Brown scored one each.

Divison 1 placings: Ritana 1, Gisborne Boys’ High School 2, Campion College 3.

Division 2 placings: GBHS (2) 1, GHS Combined 2, Maui Te Wananga 3, Gisborne Girls’ High School (2) 4.