A group of Year 7 and 8 students went out and competed in a Korfball tournament on Monday. Our A team were the champions of their grade! Here are two recounts from three kids about their experiences.

A team recount 

On Monday the 10th of September, Year ⅞ entered 2 teams into a korfball tournament.

Our A team was very successful as we won the competition. There were 13 teams and 8 schools participating. We only had 2 other teams in our pool, Kirkwood and Heaton. Unfortunately Kirkwood didn’t show therefore we won by default. Instead of playing Kirkwood we played a friendly game against the organisers and coaches who were New Zealand Korfball Players and we managed to win by one point ( 5-4 ). The following game we played Heaton and yet again we were very fortunate to get another win, which was our highest scoring game, 12 - 0. As we had won our pool we were lucky enough to make semi finals. In the semi final we Christchurch South Intermediate. It was an extremely close game but we managed to win by one point 4 - 3, with Hugo making the winning penalty shot. After another win we made it to the grand finals - Halswell v Middleton Grange. This game was another exceptionally tough game. In the last 4 seconds, we fouled another player therefore Middleton Grange got a penalty shot which they made. As they made the penalty shot it was a draw and we had to go into a penalty shoot out. The following four people were selected to take a penalty shot; Hugo, Louie, Madden and Gabby. Significantly we won the penalty shoot out as well as the competition.

All our hard work, great play and especially amazing defence managed to shut the other teams down. Congratulations to Keira, Hugo and Louie on their selection in the tournament team.

Gabby and Makaia

B team Recount

On Monday the 10th of September, an A and B team for Halswell School competed in the Year 7/8 Third Korfball competition. The Competition was held at Cowles Stadium.

There were thirteen different teams from eight different schools. The Tournament lasted all day with minimum five minute breaks and 15 minute games. Korfball is very similar to sports like Basketball and Netball, but Korfball has its own tweeks too. In Korfball you cannot shoot at the hoop when you are being defended. The court goes back behind the hoop so you can shoot from behind the hoop.

At the Korfball Tournament there were eight different schools competing, so lots of people from other schools can catch up with old friends. When teams didn't have a game (unfortunately one school did not turn up), some of the Korfball referees and organisers had a friendly game against teams.

The Finals at the end of the day for Halswell School were Halswell B against Christchurch South B and Halswell A against Christchurch South A. Halswell B lost their Final 2-3, and Halswell A won their Final, and the Tournament, in a very exciting penalty shoot-out.

The Korfball Tournament was a big success and all the schools had fun. The Halswell A team won the Tournament and brought back a trophy. Three children from Halswell School won a certificate at Prize Giving. It was one great day :) 

Ben Dufaur