1st XI Super Eight Hockey Tournament Report

The 2022 Super 8 Hockey team was: Max O'Connor, Zach Carline (Captain), Riley Theobald, Ethan Campbell, Carter Underwood, Ollie Davidson, Zachary Lee, Carter Rhodes-Robinson, Will Roberts, Samuel Bayley, Tom Bayley (Vice-Captain), Tom Collier, Hunter de Ridder, Joshua Smit, Alex James, Thomas Duncan

Game One - Tauranga Boys' College

A slow start from the boys let Tauranga break the deadlock as they put a rocket into the back right corner to take a 1-nil advantage. The game continued to be a tight match between the two sides. The 1st XI seemed to gain the upper hand after being given multiple penalty corner chances. Unfortunately, the 1st XI was unable to convert these chances. Halfway through the second quarter, a great passage of play from Josh Smit led to Zac Carline scoring the 1st XIs first tournament goal. This meant the 1st XI went into the halftime break with the score 1 - all.

The 1st XI was given more penalty corner chances before Zach Carline went on an impressive individual run and drove the baseline giving a lovely weighted ball to Will Roberts, who put it away with ease, giving the 1st XI the lead. Unfortunately, late in the third quarter, Tauranga got a breakdown penalty corner goal just before three-quarter time. The rest of the game went back and forth with no further goals being scored. The final result was a 2- all draw. 

Game Two - Gisborne Boys' High School

The match started slowly with the 1st XI holding the majority of possession; however, they found it challenging to find the back of the net. Zach Carline scored before the quarter-time, giving the 1st XI a 1 - nil advantage heading into the break. A much better passing game opened the flood gates for the 1st XI, who combined well to give their strikers plenty of ball. The second quarter saw a flurry of goals with Zach Carline (2), Will Roberts, Alex James and Tom Bayley all scoring. This gave the 1st XI a comfortable 6 - nil lead at halftime.

The third quarter saw the 1st XI guilty of holding the ball for too long, and some sloppy tackling meant we only had nine players on the field for a few minutes. Despite this, the 1st XI scored through Zach Carline and Ethan Campbell. Again, the 1st XI lifted another notch to finish the match in the fourth quarter, with Zach Carline, Josh Smit, Ethan Campbell and Will Roberts all adding to the score. The final score was 12 - 0 to the 1st XI.  

Game Three - New Plymouth Boys' High School

The 1st XI knew a win or a draw would be good enough to see them through to the semifinals. A loss would mean that a semifinal spot would depend on the result of the Tauranga Boys' College and Gisborne Boys' High School match. The 1st XI knew they were up against quality opposition in New Plymouth and wanted to make a good start putting New Plymouth under pressure. Unfortunately, this was not the case, with New Plymouth scoring twice in the first quarter. Zach Carline did manage to get one back before the halftime break from a penalty corner. The second quarter saw New Plymouth score the only goal as they started to increase their ascendency through some structured play coupled with excellent basic skill execution. Going into the halftime break 3 - 1 down, the 1st XI needed to dig deep if they were to resurrect this match.

Unfortunately, the third quarter did not go the 1st XIs way, with the team throwing away possession and starting to argue amongst themselves., New Plymouth scored two more goals, meaning catch-up hockey was needed to salvage the game. Josh Smit managed to score again, but New Plymouth quickly replied. Down 5 -2 in the final quarter, the 1st XI started to implode as New Plymouth piled on another two goals. Zach Carline scored a consolation goal in the final minutes making the final score 8 - 3 to New Plymouth.

This was a disappointing match from the 1st XI. A semifinal berth depended on Tauranga Boys' College beating Gisborne Boys' High School by at least 11 goals. Fortunately for the 1st XI, Tauranga only managed a 10-nil win which meant that the 1st XI would play the semifinal against Napier Boys' High School. 

Game Four - Napier Boys' High School (Semifinal)

This was always going to be a tight match after drawing with Napier Boys' High School at our annual exchange. The first quarter met this expectation, with both teams nullifying each other's attack. It was not until the second quarter that Napier broke the deadlock with a goal against the run of play.

Going into the halftime break 1 - nil down, the 1st XI knew that they needed to lift their standards and play constructive hockey if they were to win the match. It was all positive talk at halftime, with the 1st XI wanting to play good team hockey. Zach Carline scored the equaliser off a penalty corner drag flick early in the 3rd quarter. The game continued with the 1st XI having plenty of scoring opportunities that were not converted. However, the 1st XI remained composed and could not score again despite holding possession for much of the game. At the end of regulation play, the score remained at 1 - all, so the finalists needed to be found via a shootout.

The shootout competition saw Zach Carline, Josh Smit and Will Roberts all beat the Napier goalkeeper, with Napier only managing to sneak one past the 1st XI keeper Max O'Connor. This set up a final for the 1st XI against old foes New Plymouth Boys' High School. 

Game Five - New Plymouth Boys' High School

The 1st XI needed to improve their efforts from their loss to New Plymouth in pool play and to show that they were worthy finalists, Unfortunately, the match did not get off to the start that the 1st XI wanted, with New Plymouth being awarded a penalty corner in the opening seconds, and New Plymouth converted the penalty corner, giving them a 1 - nil lead inside the game's opening minute. The game settled after this, with both teams playing some good hockey despite the obvious fatigue from playing five matches in three days.

The game remained at 1 - nil at halftime, with both teams having their chances to score and excellent defence at both ends of the field nullified attacking opportunities. The second half saw New Plymouth gain some ascendency, and they managed to score again from a penalty corner. Despite being 2 - nil up, the 1st XI never gave up and continued to chase goals. Unfortunately, no more goals were to be had in the match, and New Plymouth were worthy   2 - nil victors, winning their fifth consecutive Super 8 Hockey title.

The PNBHS 1st XI can hold their heads high and be proud of their efforts throughout this tournament.

Congratulations to Sam and Tom Bayley, Will Roberts and Riley Theobald, who all received their 1st XI Caps during the tournament.

Thank you to all of our loyal supporters during the tournament. Your support is always appreciated, and to our hockey sponsors, Hunting and Fishing, Metro Glass and Soco Ltd, the support you give us over the season are much appreciated by the team.

Please click on the link below to view the tournament photos.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eSr3-4sbHAqmgLQ66_L0uV2QzOlKJJFh?usp=sharing