This year the Girls 1st XI Hockey team had two new coaches, Anna Wetherall (PE Teacher) and Gemma Sweeney.

Both of these coaches are very experienced in Hockey, with Anna playing in the Avon Premier Women's team and Gemma coaching the same team.

After losing five Year 13’s at the end of 2020, we started off the season with a bit of a rough game, a 9-1 loss against Christchurch Girls’ High. However, the team quickly adapted and put up a good fight the following week, slotting in an amazing team goal against Rangi Ruru, who would eventually win the division. Over the season, the team improved immensely. With a strong defence that had been built over the past four years, Gemma and Anna were keen to improve our attack. By the end of the season, the team were undoubtedly more of a threat to the opposition's defence.

In one of our final games against our closest matched team, STAC, we drew 2-2 putting the team in a good position for Federation Cup tournament, which was scheduled to be held the following week. Unfortunately, due to Covid, New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Winter Tournament Week was cancelled. This was a major upset for the team, especially for the six Year 13’s who had missed out on Federation Cup previously, in 2020.

However, wanting to leave on a positive note, the team organised a final social game with the Burnside High Boys 1st XI team. The Year 13’s will be sorely missed, but the future of Burnside High Girls Hockey is in the capable hands of our young stars.

Becky Coulson and Freyja Marshall