CAPTAIN'S KNOCK: St Johns Hill skipper Blake Hoskin (red) looks to have the measure of St George's Harry Hughes during yesterday's Wanganui Primary Interschool Hockey Championship final.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 160615WCSMHOCKEY
CAPTAIN'S KNOCK: St Johns Hill skipper Blake Hoskin (red) looks to have the measure of St George's Harry Hughes during yesterday's Wanganui Primary Interschool Hockey Championship final.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 160615WCSMHOCKEY
In a repeat of last year's final, St Johns Hill dispatched St Georges to win the annual Wanganui Primary Interschool Hockey Championship at Gonville Domain yesterday.
St Johns Hill coach and Hockey Wanganui operations manager Kylie Penn was thrilled with the 5-1 win, but also the profile the annual tournamentgave the game at primary level.
"Mosston, Gonville, Carlton, Churton, St Marcellin, Tawhero, Keith St, Durie Hill and St Annes school competed, so it is widespread. St Marcellan, Keith St and Tawhero entered teams even though they don't compete in the normal weekly competition - it's a win for hockey really," Penn said.
The road to the final for St Johns Hill was relatively straight forward after beating Mosston in the semifinal. St Georges, however, had a real battle on their hands and were forced to go to extra time after drawing 1-all with Churton School at the end of normal play.
At intervals during extra time each team dropped a player until both St Georges and Churton were down to three apiece. St Georges won the battle in the end earning the right to play St Johns Hill in the final.
"Our captain Blake Hoskin led by example and made sure everyone got involved. I was thrilled by the result - it was a real team effort in the end," Penn said.
