Boys’ 1st XI hockey (back) Joe Piggott (Coach), Hugh Nixon (Y13), Noah Mellish-Temple (Y12), Shaun Cooper (Y11), Corin Simcock (Y13), Luke Slee (Y12), Jonty Foote, Jakarta Klebert, Adam Redway, Harry Withers (all Y13), Rainer Klebert (Strength and Conditioning) (front) Brad Munt (Coach), Rico Gamble (Y13), Sebastian May (Y12), Harry O’Brien (Y13), Jackson Hodgkinson (Y11), Jonathon Rollinson, Rhys Marshall (both Y13), Joel Rogers (Y12), Benjamin Harford (Y11), Alex Rippin (Y12), Mark Rippin (Manager)

Winter Tournament Week is a much-anticipated event for secondary school sports in Aotearoa and thousands of students gather in various parts of New Zealand to compete in a range of competitions. It was exciting to see the results come in as the various tournaments progressed, with St Andrew’s teams achieving some outstanding results at a national and South Island level.

Stand out performers were the Boys’ 1st XI hockey team, who finished second in New Zealand as runners-up in the national Rankin Cup Tournament; the Girls’ 1st XI football team, who finished fifth in New Zealand at the Girls’ Premier Football Tournament; and the Girls’ Senior A basketball team, equestrian team, and U15 rugby team, who were all crowned South Island champions at their various competitions.

Staff who travelled with the St Andrew’s teams commented on their positive spirit, resilience, courage, and commitment to fair play.

Hockey

The Boys’ 1st XI hockey team had an outstanding national Rankin Cup Tournament, finishing second to Westlake Boys’ High School in the final. The team started the competition well, with strong wins on the first three days of the competition setting them up for a quarter-final against old foes, Timaru Boys’ High School. The boys put in a gritty performance to win this match in a penalty shootout. A solid 2–0 win in the semi-final against St Paul’s Collegiate School set them up for the final against Westlake Boys’ High School, who they had met the last time St Andrew’s made the Rankin Cup final in 2015. It was a torrid, close encounter, and with the score at 0–0 at full time, the match headed to a penalty shootout. Although the boys lost this 1–3 they can be proud of their outstanding achievement to finish second in New Zealand, and the composure and sportsmanship they displayed throughout the tournament.

The girls also performed well, with the Girls’ 1st XI hockey finishing ninth in New Zealand in their national Federation Cup Tournament, and the Girls’ 2nd XI hockey winning the South Island Tier 4 Tournament.

Girls’ 1st XI football (back) Jessie Mercer (Y10), Charlotte Roche (Y13), Brooke Manion (Y13), Megan Simpson, Odette Lieshout (both Y11), Kyra Lazor (Y12), Scarlett Gray (Y10), Morgan Lee (Y12), Maddison Bisphan (Y13), Juan Chang (Head Coach), (front) Taylor Gordon, Alyssa Sanders (both Y9), Addison Pilkington (Y11), Amelia McAllister (Y12), Amber de Wit (Y10), Billie Revis (Y11), Chelsea Tippen (Y13), Gemma Wong (Y10)

Football

The Girls’ 1st XI football capped off a fantastic local season by finishing fifth at the Girls’ Premier Football Tournament. Unbeaten in their four matches in the first two days’ of tournament play, the St Andrew’s girls were excited to be heading into the quarter-finals, as one of the top eight teams in New Zealand. A 0–2 loss to Epsom Girls’ Grammar School put them into a match up with Rangitoto College, which they won 2–0, putting them into a playoff for fifth and sixth against Napier Girls’ High School. A strong 3–2 win saw the team finish fifth in New Zealand, which was an incredible achievement for the girls.

The Boys’ 1st XI football team also had a great tournament week, finishing fourth at the Malcolm Cowie Tournament.

Basketball

The Girls’ Senior A basketball team was dominant in the ‘AA’ Zone 4 New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Premiership, winning their early games by significant margins of 40 to 50 goals. This great form continued in their quarter-final matchup against Middleton Grange School, which they won 94–34, and semi-final win against Waimea College, 70–33. These wins set up a final against another in-form team, Rangiora High School. The St Andrew’s girls played a solid game, and were seriously challenged by a determined Rangiora side in the final few minutes. In a nail biting finish, a last play in the final seconds saw St Andrew’s take an exciting one point 66–65 win and be crowned South Island champions.

The Boys’ Senior A basketball team finished 18th in their ‘AA’ Zone 4 New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Premierships, with the Junior Boys’ basketball team finishing eighth out of 25 teams in their tournament.

Girls’ Senior A basketball team (back) Adam Morgan, Ruby Beynon, Rafferty Powell (both Y11), Natasha Lind (Y13), Ella Sharp, Molly-Belle Morrow (both Y11), Kavanah Lene (Y12) (front) Karereatua Williams, Angelique Doig (both Y13), Charlotte Seddon (Y12), Ophelia Powell (Y11), Dave Ermerins

Equestrian

Despite having fewer riders than many other schools, the talents of the St Andrew’s equestrian team shone through, with consistently high performances which saw them win the South Island title. On the first day, the team won the Competitive Trail Riding event, and on the second day, the Canterbury Schools’ Team Dressage Trophy, placing St Andrew’s as the top school across both days. The St Andrew’s team continued its great form to win the overall South Island Secondary Schools’ Equestrian Championships, which was a fantastic effort.

Rugby

The U15 rugby team had an unbeaten six match record to win the South Island Co-educational Tournament. They won several of their games by large margins, with only South Otago High School coming close in the quarter-final, which St Andrew’s won 12–10. The boys played a great game in the final against Dunstan High School, winning 28–15 to become the overall champions.

The U16 rugby team participated in a Quadrangular Tournament.

Netball

The Senior A team played some outstanding netball and had a number of strong wins throughout the South Island Secondary Schools’ Netball Tournament. They finished in fifth place which saw them qualify for the national tournament where they finished twelfth.

Equestrian team, back from left Georgia Lewis (Y9), Gemma Lewis (Y12), Martha McRae (Y9), Lucy Charteris (Y10), Lily Ellis (Y10) Absent: Sophie Pickens (Y13)

Badminton

The Boys’ A badminton team put in some good performances to finish fifth at the Canterbury Secondary Schools’ Badminton Tournament.