Hockey: WBHS finish fifth at Nationals

Whangarei Boys High School's First XI capped off a very successful season with a fifth place finish at the 2016 Rankin Cup & India Shield in Wellington.

Whangarei Boys High School carried their impressive form into secondary school tournament week and were rewarded for their efforts.

Competing against the best schools in the country, WBHS finished fifth overall in a tough effort.

After being placed into group C, they took on a tough opponent in Kings College.

A Rio Tuson goal wasn't enough as they succumbed to a 4-1 defeat.

WBHS regrouped however, winning their other two matches to finish second in their group.

Their bounce-back was immediate and clinical, beating New Plymouth Boys High 11-1. Zac Litchfield had a hattrick while Bronson Baker and Joshua Parsons added doubles.

They were then pushed to the brink by John McGlashan College. After leading 5-1 midway through the second spell, WBHS dropped their guard and their opponents pounced.

Luckily, four goals from Litchfield gave them enough of a buffer to escape with the win.

In the top 16 knockout round, a three-goal blitz in the second half helped WBHS to a 5-3 win over Hamilton Boys High School.

Bronson Baker (2) and Cameron Lindsay scored goals in the nine-minute burst to earn WBHS a quarter-final spot.

Unfortunately a late goal in the quarter-final cruelly ended their quest for the top spot.

St Andrews College opened the scoring in the second minute through captain Matt Cummins.

Luke Trigg squared the contest 16 minutes later and as the game seemed destined to go to a shootout, Cummins stepped up to put St Andrews in the semi-finals.

WBHS once again showed their ability to bounce back from defeat in the aims of ending the tournament ranked fifth.

They were pushed to a shootout in their next match against Christchurch Boys High School.

Baker and CBHS captain Moss Jackson traded two regulation time goals and the teams couldn't be spearated after extra time.

In the shootout, a brilliant effort from goalkeeper William Stainton kept CBHS to just three successful attempts and goals from Baker, Hamish McKechnie, Litchfield and Lindsay saw them home.

WBHS then clinched fifth with a 4-2 win over Wellington College, helped by goals from Lindsay (2), Baker and Trigg.