After last season's Rankin Cup we were ranked 11th in the country, so the decision to step up to first division helped.Langley Atkinson, coachWANGANUI High School boys' hockey team head to the deep south tomorrow intent on bettering their ranking in national secondary school competition.
The side will compete for the Rankin Cup in Invercargill, a competition which pits 16 of the country's top school sides against each other.
Last season WHS finished 11th.
Coach Langley Atkinson said a decision was made last season to play first division hockey in the regional league and that paid dividends.
"After last season's Rankin Cup we were ranked 11th in the country, so the decision to step up to first division helped. We have done the same again this season and we're aiming to better our national ranking," Atkinson said.
"We lost five players, including our goalkeeper from last season when they left school, so this year we have blooded a few young players. We haven't been embarrassed in any of our first division games this season - the worst losses there've only been two or three goals in it."
Atkinson was glad the Rankin Cup was being held next week instead of in the days just gone given the weather bomb that struck the country.
"It's been bad enough up north let alone in the deep south. The guys have had trouble hanging on to their sticks with frozen hands but we'll be well prepared for the week ahead."
The WHS boys will play two matches in Invercargill at the start of pool play on Monday then one match a day until the final session on Friday when results will determine the schedule.
On returning to Wanganui, WHS play off in the bottom four of the first division regional competition against the older players.
"Put it this way: We are not last in the local league and the game time down south should help when we return," Atkinson said.
Team manager Bryce Balsley said hockey, particularly in the region, did not get the recognition it deserved.
"These guys [Wanganui High School] are ranked 11th in the country for secondary schools at the moment and that's a real achievement," Balsley said.