Te Puke
Basketball: Our senior boys played against Otumoetai College senior B last Wednesday and found them impossible to beat but learned a lot from the game. Great to see that one of our international students has joined the team.
Rugby: Our first XV took on Edgecumbe College on Saturday and our boys played extremely well, finishing one point short, 26-25. Over at Litt Park, our under-15 boys played Mount Maunganui College, in what was a great game to watch. However, an impressive runaway try scored in the second half wasn't quite enough to come away with a victory.
Football: Our first XI played top of the table Tauranga Boys' third XI. Our boys defended well and had some great shots at goal but Tauranga took the win. The second XI had a close game with Tauranga Boys' Denmark, just missing out in a nail-biting 4-3 game. Our third XI were away at Waipuna Park and, although playing their best, were unable to get past Waipuna to score a goal.
The girls' second XI had an intense game against Tauranga GC senior White. They scored a final goal in the last five minutes of the game to pull ahead and win 6-5. That's their second win in a row, well done girls. Our first XI girls struggled against the team at the top of the table. They played well and had some great defence. Keep up the great work.
Indoor football: We took two boys teams away to the Bay of Plenty indoor football competition; the first and second XIs. Our first XI had some great games in the senior division and had a good time scoring goals in the indoor court. Our second XI played exceptionally well in the junior division, winning three out of four games and winning the play-off against Papamoa to take third.
Hockey: Our first XI boys played a men's team, Mount Studs, in a non-competition round. The boys got a lesson in hard hitting, fast running, strong hockey. Josh Reha was busy in goal and made some great saves.
Otumoetai
Congratulations to our basketball athletes who represented Tauranga City in the recent under-17 national tournament - Cydney Ebeling, Kelcy Ballantyne, Landon Ebeling and Jack Neale.
The football boys first XI played Aquinas 1st XI on the weekend. After drawing 2-2 in the first round of the season, Otumoetai knew that if they played well they could collect three points. Aquinas scored the opening goal of the game early in the first half to lead 1-0 at halftime. Otumoetai opened their account from a free kick that Callum Hughes took, sending it to the far post where Vaughan Wilson headed the ball across goal for Thomas Jamieson to slot it past the keeper.
Otumoetai scored the next goal, also from a free kick. The final score was 2-1 to Otumoetai.
Saturday which was the start of the second round against Trident. After losing 4-2 to Trident in the first round, Otumoetai had something to prove. Otumoetai were quickly on the back foot, being dominated and outplayed with some good football, which was turned into an early goal. From then on, Otumoetai were on top, equalising within minutes through the skill from Nico Auksuitat to set up Andrew Johnston.
Early in the second half, Jordan Wakley drew a foul in their goal box to give Otumoetai the lead, where it would remain until the final whistle. Jordan Wakley was player of the day.
The girls' first XI travelled to Whakatane and played a spirited game but lost 3-1. The junior A boys football team missed a golden opportunity to go to the top of the 14/15 premier league after being held 0-0 by Tauranga Boys Junior B. Defensively strong, the boys just couldn't get the winning goal despite many attempts and majority of possession.
Netball continues to go well with the Prem One team having a comfortable win over the Bethlehem Two team 53-21. The Prem Two team also won 38-24. Congratulations to Abi May for being selected to the Bay of Plenty under-19 gold team, Se'arn Tahere and Olivia Young for selection into the Bay under-15 team and Michaela Isaac, Mackenzie Suttie, Emily Farron, Jasmine Tawa, Kahla Tyson and Roebi Bidois for Harbourside under-15.
Congratulations to Liam Whareaitu and Jack Boyle who have been selected for the New Zealand under-17 volleyball team to tour Australia in July. Liam will captain the side.
These girls have been selected for a Bay of Plenty schoolgirl rugby trial - Kaya Te Meha, Hoana Toovey, Deborah Paine and Kate Hendry. The Otumoetai College first XV ended the first round at the top of the table for co-ed schools in division one for the Bay of Plenty. The team had good wins over Trident, Western Heights, Bethlehem and Rotorua Boys second XV.
After a run of injuries to key players, the team is starting to get back to full strength as we head into the championship round. These players have been nominated for the Bay under-18 reps - Billy Carter, Ryan Henstock, Mark Nicholls and Neal Redward. Students nominated for the Bay under-16s - Matt Ensor, Sam Redmayne, Josh Kingsford, Cameron McCaskie and David Irwin.
Otumoetai College had a win over Bethlehem College and were dominant on attack, however a resolute Bethlehem defence denied two tries.
Eventually, the Otumoetai boys made better use of the ball and Billy Carter scored two tries out on the wing. Otumoetai College would like to thank its sponsors: Toll Logistics for the apparel, Brookfield Amcal Pharmacy for medical supplies, Caltex Otumoetai for petrol vouchers, Prestige Drycleaning for jersey cleaning, and Bakeshack for aftermatch functions.
Our under-15 rugby team had a much improved forward effort against a physically larger Western Heights Forward pack and provided some good front-foot ball. The backs showed speed and accuracy, resulting in a good win 34-5. An outstanding effort from No 8 Devon Topu resulted in him earning 3 MVP points and loose forward Andre Rawlinson continues to improve.
The equestrian team consisting of Sophie Tingey, Anna Tingey, Finn Maloney and Mary Mitchell competed at the North Island secondary schools show hunter championships in Cambridge. Anna came 6th in the 75cm class, Sophie third in the 90cm class and third in the 1m class, Finn 8th in the 90cm class and 9th in the 1m class. Mary Mitchell placed 7th in the 1m class and 1st in the 1.05m class and also won the Equitation medal for the 1.05m class. The team was fourth overall.
Aquinas
Aquinas College's top runners are holding their heads up high after a huge achievement at the New Zealand secondary schools cross-country championships in Auckland over the weekend.
Three of the college's younger runners returned home with a first in the three-person girls' Year 9 team. The three - Dana Welten, Hannah Skelton and Michelle Dykes - finished 14th, 17th and 28th respectively, which was enough for them to take the gold.
The threesome also brought home silver medals. Their efforts, combined with those of Kimberly D'Mello (55th), Rhianna Mulhern (59th) and Nathalier Guernier (68th), resulted in them taking second in the six-person team.
More good results were on the way when Anneke Grogan took to the track to finish ninth in the senior girls' event. This means she has made the team of 12 senior girls to travel to Adelaide to represent New Zealand in August.
Meanwhile, the other five Aquinas runners who competed in Auckland over the weekend were - Year 9 level - Blake Dawson (35th), Victor Bibi (65th) and Morgan Brockelsby (127th) out of a field of 171 runners. The three managed 15th position in the three-person team.
At senior level, performances by Anneke Grogan (9th), Charlotte Skelton (39th) and Lauren Dennehy (86th) meant this group of girls finished 8th in the three-person team from a field of 145.
Tauranga Girls
Tauranga Girls' College competed strongly at the underwater hockey regional competition over the weekend. The senior team consisted of Courtney Coughlan, Megan Burrows, Gen Saunders, Kelly Saunders, Kate Potaka, Shannon Joyes, Freya O'Sullivan and Alana Moss. These girls did well, undefeated in 10 games, scoring 75 goals with only three goals against.
They beat Epsom Girls Grammar in the final to come out with gold. Gen Saunders was named MVP for the team.
In the junior division, the team had a rough start with players absent with other commitments, losing their first three games but winning the remaining four pool games to make it through to the semifinals. They played off for third against Howick College, beating them to achieve bronze. The team consisted of Tayla Hurbert, Kirsty Burrows, Georgia Coughlan, Courtney Johnstone, Jordan Ross, Danielle Joyes, Petra Moss, Bella Taylor and Hope McConner. Courtney Johnstone won MVP and both teams have now qualified for the nationals in Wellington in September.
At the cross-country nationals we also had some strong competition. In the Year 9 division, Erin Conway came 3rd, Olivia Hines 12th and Sam Bitcheno 84th. In the juniors, Tauranga Girls' College were first in the six-person team and second in the three-person team. Individual competitors were Jessica Bitcheno 15th, Naomi Stewart 24th, Kirsty Burrows 35th, Tayla Forward 41st, Rose Barker 65th, and Anna O'Laughlan 90th.
In senior girls, Isabella Kirk was 24th, Casey Blackwell 37th, Stella Marshall 47th, Amy Robinson 53rd, Sam Fredheim 65th and Vivien Conway 77th. These girls also made up the six-person team which was third.
In football over the weekend, all our top teams had wins, with the first XI having an impressive win against Te Puke, and the second XI a close game against Aquinas first XI, coming out on top 5-4. The third XI won their game against Otumoetai College 2nd XI 2-0 and Junior A also had a close game but won 3-2 against Rotorua United Legends.
Netball on Friday night was also successful. TGC League 1 won 39-17 against Mount Maunganui College 1, League 2 had a close score of 31-25 against Te Kura Kokiri Wairakei, Junior A beat Aquinas College Premier 2 41-16 and Junior B won against Aquinas Junior B 39-15.
Hockey teams also did well, with Tauranga Girls' seniors winning 4-0 against United Girls and the second XI having a good game against Te Puke first XI, coming out on top 4-2.
The inline hockey team took on Matamata College junior girls. Although down 3-1 at halftime, they didn't give up and achieved a 4-all draw. - Bria Wollaston
Tauranga Boys
This week was one of the final weekends before the end of term so the majority of the squads wanted to head into the two-week break on a high.
At the national secondary schools cross-country championships, Tauranga Boys had a great chance to earn some medals. The much-anticipated junior boys event quickly saw Daniel Hintz at the front of the field within a group comprising of two other runners. With 500m to go, Daniel made a real effort and pulled away to win the event, gaining his second national title in cross-country after winning the Year 9 event in 2011.
In the final race of the day, the senior boys 6000m, the entire team was hoping that in his final year Michael Sutton would be able to finish on the dais with an individual medal after five successful years representing the school. Sutton ran a perfect race as he had done a week earlier at the Waikato champs, making his way through to second after two of the three laps, and battled hard to maintain his second position.
Overall, Hintz's individual first place, Sutton's individual second, two junior boys' team silvers and two Year 9 boys' bronze medals were a great achievement from the Tauranga Boys' College team and something for us to again aim for in 2013.
Tauranga Boys' College first XV played New Plymouth Boys' High School for a 20-8 victory. Overall, we could be pleased with the result and the way that we managed to retain possession, although patience and cutting out simple errors could be improved. Strong games from Mungo Mason, Carlos Savage, Lars Morris and Joel Draffin helped lay the platform for the backs to make inroads.
This weekend, the football first XI beat Rotorua Boys' High School 7-2. The boys enjoyed a sound win that puts Tauranga Boys' College right on track to qualify for the top 16 nationally. Well done lads, it was a top effort. Goals came from Ahmad Zammit (2), Jack Chaney (2), Connor Probert, Tom Taylor and Matt Kilpatrick.
Next up was Hamilton Boys' High School. It took only minutes for Tauranga Boys to hit home the opening goal thanks to some creative build-up play and a cracking finish from youngster Dylan Bill. Hamilton Boys fought their way back into the contest but, thanks to some fine saves from keeper Ben Pammett, the score remained 1-0 as we headed into the break.
After the half, three goals were scored, levelling the game at 2-2. Thinking that the game was heading for a draw we pushed forward and a corner resulted in a brilliant goal from Dylan Bill to give him a double. The 3-2 win puts us top of the group and guarantees us a spot in the top 16 at nationals.
Tauranga Boys senior A basketball team played Bay Bombers 1 men's team. It was a tight game for the boys as the game was neck and neck but with last minute free throws from both teams the boys lost by one point. But they did not stay with them for a long time. Up against local rivals Otumoetai College, the boys found enough strength to take a 20-point win.
Tauranga Boys' College underwater hockey squad headed to Auckland last weekend to compete in the regional champs. The competition was bigger this year and, with four wins and four losses, they were fourth overall, qualifying for the nationals in Wellington in September.
A great win for the rock climbers at the schools comp on Monday, June 18. The team - Owain Fineron, Isaac Buckley, Adam Steens, Isaac O'Kell and James Brogan - were the highest-scoring team.
Last Friday at Memorial Hall, the two Tauranga Boys' College indoor bowls teams were first and third in the boys fours section. The winning team was skipped by Talor Duncan and strongly supported by Nathan Arlidge, Stefan McCartain and Brad Stockman. They went through unbeaten.
Congratulations to Brad Fullerton who has been named in the New Zealand under-19 beach volleyball team. He heads to Cyprus in two weeks to compete at the youth world championships.
Katikati
Basketball: Katikati junior B boys took on Otumoetai B, with both teams coming out firing to be neck and neck the entire game. In the closing seconds of the game, Katikati scored to draw level at 45-45. We went into overtime and played an extra three minutes, where Ben O'Brien scored an impressive three-pointer to take the game out 48-47.
Cricket: One of our students, Brody Gilroy, played in the Bay of Plenty senior men's indoor cricket team at the weekend. They had an outstanding win over a highly fancied North Harbour. Brody bowled two excellent overs which had a great impact on the game and took a pressure catch in the last over to seal the win. Brody has also been selected for the Northern Districts under-17 team for the nationals in Wellington in the next school holidays.
Football: Last weekend, the Katikati College boys' first XI travelled to Tauranga to take on second-placed Tauranga Boys' College. With a previous 4-2 loss, the boys were keen for a win. A close, fast-paced game saw the final score 1-all. A crucial save from our keeper, Koos van Timmeren, kept Tauranga Boys out in the last minute.
Mt Maunganui
Our school rugby teams have all been performing well in the second round of the Baywide competition.
The 1st XV have moved up into division 1 where they have had two consecutive wins placing them top of the table.
Their first game against Opotiki saw them win 13-12. While MMC was outscored two tries to one, Opotiki were unable to seal the victory with a failed conversion late in the second half.
Our forwards performed exceptionally well against a large Opotiki pack and we won several tight-heads and were dominant at lineout time, which provided us a good percentage of the possession.
Opotiki went out to an early 7-3 lead, which they held to halftime. Mid-way through the second half, we narrowed the gap with a penalty out in front 7-6 and then we scored a brilliant try to take the lead 13-7. However, Opotiki weren't done and hit back in the closing minutes with a try to narrow the gap to 13-12 but they failed to convert to win the match.
The second match against Western Heights was another nail-biter with MMC forwards dominating in the forwards with our front row hard to contain. Danny Kayes, usually a back, played at number 8 and scored two tries. Logan Gies had a good burst from a maul and ran away from the packs to score a great try. MMC were down 14-10 at halftime and a try towards the end of the second half took them out in front with the three missed conversions keeping the scoreline close.
Great to see the commitment of the playing fifteen and the subs that are always ready to fill a gap each week, showing true team commitment.
Our U15 Mauao team having moved into Premiership have had three outstanding matches, winning by more than 25 points in each game. They sit top of the table with Trident and Opotiki also posting three wins in this Premiership round. The MMC 2nd XV also head the table with TBC and Western Heights close on their heels behind by one point.
The Volleyball Trans-Tasman Quadrangular competition was played last week in Christchurch where Brendon-Ray Hurlock coached the North Island Secondary Schools U19 girls team to a sweet victory, beating New South Wales, Queensland and sealing the title with a win against the South Island team in four sets having lost the first set 20-25 then securing the victory 25-18, 25-19, 25-18.
Two MMC students featured in the North Island team; Tyla Welsh and Franqui Leach. A NZ team was chosen from this and they went on to win the three test series against Australia.
Bethlehem
The 1st XV are enjoying their time in the first division.
This week BC was on the right side winning 26-25 against Trident High School.
In an exciting game, Matthew Cole was the player of the day with his outstanding kicking.
The Open A netball team continued their fine run with a convincing win 54-26 against Te Puke. At the moment they are top of the A grade.
This week we want to highlight some of our junior successes.
In the W Bay Gym Sports festival, Eric Stratton came seconds in the junior men's artistic section, whilst Brynya Downey won the twister club rhythmic section. Madison Gartner (Y9) won the Graham Cup at Tauranga Golf Club with a top stableford score of 43 points.
Meanwhile, Cole Rippey in Y8 has just returned home after a two week trip to Sri Lanka where he competed in the Optimist Asian Championships.
Sailing in perfect conditions all week. There were top sailors from Asia, USA and Australia.
His top result was 2nd by a mere half boat length and overall Cole finished 12th, the best result for a Kiwi sailor since New Zealand started sending teams to this regatta back in 2005. - Bethany Garland, Sport Council
Christian Lio-Willie has been called into the squad as cover.