Hockey: Tournament Week update

The WCC 1st X1 girls footballers warm down after beating Paraparaumu in the Hutt Valley during Tournament Week and finding a spot in the quarter finals in the Hutt Valley today.

It is a mixed bag for Whanganui secondary school teams midway through Tournament Week at various locations nationwide.

The majority of sporting codes began competing on Monday and run through to Friday or Saturday, although several only commenced on Wednesday.

The Wanganui Collegiate colts boys hockey team beat Hillcrest High School 3-1 on Wednesday in Tauranga to make the semi-final Thursday.

The boys 1st X1 hockey team have made it to the semi-final on the North Shore on Thursday, whole the girls 1st X1 have yet to win a match in Dunedin losing Wellington East 5-1; Lincoln 1-2 and 1-4 against Nelson.

The WCC girls 1st X1 football side have made the quarter finals on Thursday in the Hutt Valley after finishing tied for first in Pool A. They remained unbeaten with wins against Inglewood 2-1, Paraparaumu 1-0 and Chilton 2-1 and a draw against Havelock North HS before falling 1-nil to Upper Hutt on Wednesday morning.

The senior A WCC netballers are in the top 16 after winning their first three games against Inglewood 30 -25, Taradale 39-25 and Hawera 33-26 before posting losses to Samual Marsden and NGHS.

The WCC basketballers began Wednesday in Tauranga and the U15 rugby XV also started Wednesday at Lindisfarne.

The Whanganui City College netball and hockey sides have only won one of four matches played in New Plymouth and Taupo respectively so far this week, while the U15 rugby team travelled to St Pat's Silverstream for the Hurricanes U15 tournament on Wednesday.

Principal Peter Kaua said the 23-strong U15 rugby squad also featured players from Ruapehu College and Cullinane filling in for injured and errant City College students.

"We had two players injured and two that didn't meet school criteria," Kaua said.

"They knew before the tournament they needed to meet attitude, attendance and achievement requirements, but they didn't so they didn't get to go. It has opened the door for players from Ruapehu and Cullinane though."

Injuries have hampered Whanganui Girls College hockey chances in Tauranga as they moved to cross over pool play on Wednesday.

Head of sport Rochelle Howard, who accompanied the hockey girls, said the team had been performing okay winning their first game, but then the losses crept in after injuries struck.

"We've had a few injuries, including our goalie, so that hasn't helped," Howard said.
"The netball girls were up near the top of their pool in New Plymouth from what I hear and doing well."

Meanwhile, the WGC footballers are expected to find their feet from on Thursday after several close losses to far bigger schools in the early days of Tournament Week.

Teacher and travelling companion Caren Steed said the girls were far from disgraced against the stronger schools narrowing losing by one or two goals.

"I expected vast improvement now we will be up against teams of similar strength to us," Steed said.