Swollen rugby ranks bring success

Wanganui Rugby

It has been a busy year for the WHS 1st XV as well as teams in the lower grades. They had two extra Under-14 grade teams and started the season with two U19 grades, along with the 1st XV playing in Manawatu.

Earlier in the year there was a WHS girls sevens team while the boys won the Wanganui Schools Sevens WHS entered a sevens squad in three competitions coming third in the Hawkes Bay U23, and winning both the Wanganui Senior B and the Manawatu Secondary Schools Invitational. The latter earned them a trip to Taranaki in November to try to qualify for the Condor Sevens in Auckland.

The 1st XV also had their second pre-season trip to Christchurch to play Christchurch Boys' High, losing by two points.

"The Premier 1 competition began with a round-the-table talk with heads of the Manawatu Union informing us three teams Tu Toa Academy, Palmerston North Boys High Reserves and WHS were too strong for that competition and suggested these teams move up into the Colts under-21 grade and come together as semifinalists with the top Premier 1 qualifying team," said coach Darryl Malcolm. "[We] agreed and doing so, met Tu Toa Academy in the semifinal [winning] 24-18 after coming off the Wednesday memorable game WHS beating Collegiate 15-7 for the first time in 15 years."

WHS came from 18 points down to draw 25-25 with PNBHS in the Premier 1 final, winning the championship on a countback of four tries to three.

At press time, the school was also in the Hurricanes co-ed competition final against Wairarapa College, result on Page 30.

Football

Ladies 1st XI In a local league dominated by one team, Wanganui Athletic Ladies, WHS Girls were the only team to inflict a defeat upon them and finished second in the Women's League this season.

"The girls have risen to the challenges issued by all the ladies teams in Wanganui and have had an amazing season. We look forward to working and developing these talents further," say coaching staff.

Ladies 2nd XI This was a developing team playing their first season in the Women's League. Half of the squad had never played football before but improved to finish in mid position on the points table.

"In the Central Six Tournament they came second, by one point, remaining undefeated in all their games. Watch this space," say the coaches.

HockeyGirls A Team WHS A team have been playing in the Palmerston North Girls' First Division, travelling out of town for most of this season. They made the third/fourth playoff against Collegiate A, which was played at Gonville Domain.

Three WHS players were named in the Central U18 team Jessica Watkin, Charlotte Dixon and WHS captain Kara Jurgens.

The team is attending tournament week in Whakatane, starting today and finishing Friday.

Composite Team This season WHS and Wanganui Girls' College formed a composite team for the local secondary school competition combining well and holding their own.

Boys A Team 2013 is seeing a rebuilding phase for this team, but the aim is to reach the heights of recent WHS teams, who have been ranked as high as fourth in NZ Secondary Schools. They are sitting second n the local competition and although their out-of-town and inter-school clashes have seen losses against Wairarapa College, Hutt Valley High, New Plymouth Boys and Waiopehu College, the game scores were close.

Coach Langley Atkinson and manager Steve Rainey said expectations were high for tournament week in Napier, where teams are competing for the India Shield. They aim to make the top 16 and be promoted back to Rankin Cup level.

Captain Josh Rainey made the U18 Central District and Wanganui squads and was named non-travelling reserve in the Central District U21 side. Also making Wanganui U18 was Chris Lesage, Lee Moir, Connor Mill, Ben Pilet, Daniel Thompson and Benjamin Luff-Scott.