After a tough local season finishing near the bottom of the Canterbury Hockey competition, we headed off to Invercargill to compete in the Audrey Timlin Memorial Hockey Tournament at the start of September.

Our team was led by our amazing Y13 captains Gabriela Cowell, Coco Cruickshank and Leah Hanrahan. Fellow team members; Jorja Cowan, Lucy Cox (GK), Kate Muncaster, Paytn McBride (GK), Myli Bateman, Samantha Riley, Tilda Webster, Emma Cox, Adela Cowell, Madison Sollitt, Sophie Lambie, Claudia Van Grunsven, Merryn Campbell and Milla Boulten. Coaches: Anna Wetherall and Gemma Sweeney. Manager - Toni Maddaford.

We kicked off the tournament, bright and early Monday morning, with sun and warmth for our 8am match against hosts Southland Girls High School B. We started well with a 8-1 win. 

Day 2 was a big one, playing a doubleheader against the two hardest teams in our pool. In the morning the girls pulled out all the stops and came out strong against a hockey smart and physical Craighead Diocesan. A great game of hockey and probably one of the most hard fought and intense games in all of pool play. The team really displayed our values and although we went down 4-1 it wasn't a reflection of the game on the turf. However, that one goal of ours proved to be crucial.....

In the afternoon we had our local match up against Cashmere High School. Very early on in our local competition we had lost to them 6-0, so it was time for payback. 

It was all on the line for both teams.... tied on points with a win and a loss and tied on goal difference, it was a must win for both to finish 2nd in our pool and go through to the top 8. 

Again the girls played out of their skin and just after half time we went up 1-0 following an amazing 'in the air' tap in goal from Samantha Riley. The girls were all gassed, running their hearts out and we managed to hold onto that lead until the last 3 minutes where we conceded to make it 1 all. Lets just say it was a nail biting 3 minutes on the sideline but we kept composed and finished with a draw. 

Since we were tied on points and goal difference it then went to “goals for” and we had scored 2 more than Cashmere so we were through to the top 8.

Wednesday’s quarter final was against Dunstan High School. It was another close game with lots of tired legs, having played one game more than our opposition. After starting strongly we led 2-0, which was soon followed by a couple of conceded goals, but a team effort in defense saw us hold onto the lead to win 3-2 and head to the semi’s!

The girls made hard work of Thursday’s semi final against Rangiora High School making us wait till the very end. Rangiora came out hard and scored early in the first quarter to take a 1-0 lead. We managed to not let that fluster us and Leah Hanrahan put one in back of the goal near the end of the third quarter to square it up. Lots of opportunities but we just couldn't quite get that second goal so it went to shootout. 

In goal, Paytn McBride was amazing and at the end of the first round (of 5) we were locked at 2-2. It then went to sudden death and both teams scored the first (Coco Cruickshank), Patyn saved the second and Gabriela Cowell slotted ours for the win!!!

THE FINAL vs Ashburton College

Spirits were high as we headed into the final, following a win to each team in the local season.  Both teams came out strong with Ashburton making their statement in the 7th minute to go 1-0 up. With our heads up we put the pressure on and Gabriela Cowel converted a penalty corner to make it 1 all. For the rest of the game both teams battled it out with near misses until 6 minutes to go when Kate Muncaster slotted a beautiful field goal for us to go ahead 2-1 and clinch the Gold medal. 

For making the top two, the team now has the opportunity to compete at the top tournament, Federation Cup & Marie Fry Trophy, in 2025.

It was a great week had by all and we wish our Y13 leavers all the best; Gabriela Cowell, Coco Cruickshank, Leah Hanrahan, Jorja Cowan and Lucy Cox. 

Fun fact, the BHS team won this same trophy back in 2019, funnily enough in Invercargill! 

~ Results ~

Pool play - finished 2nd

8-1 vs Southland Girls High School B

1-4 vs Craighead Diocesan School

1-1 vs Cashmere High School

Quarter Final

3-2 vs Dunstan High School

Semi Final

1-1 (4-3 shootout) vs Rangiora High School

Final

2-1 Ashburton College