St Paul's hosts the Tanner Cup

The Tanner Cup 2024 had a full complement of 16 teams including one new entrant, Wellington College. Fourteen teams stayed on-site during the tournament, making it a busy week for the support staff.

Special thanks to Joe Hollier (facilities), Chris Warner (catering), and their respective teams for ensuring the tournament's success.

The St Paul’s Collegiate School team consisted of Junior A and Development team players, coached by Sam Aston and managed by Jason Ganley. The team included two boys returning from the first Tihoi intake, which was a welcome addition but challenging for those boys who hadn't played hockey for the first half of the season.

The tournament provided an opportunity for the day boys in the team to experience boarding life in Sargood during the four days. On the turf, St Paul’s had a tough first-day match-up against Auckland Grammar.

After going down a goal, the team got one back through Logan Hickey to earn a credible 1-1 draw. The second match against Wellington College saw a strong performance from the St Paul’s boys, winning 3-1.

Logan Hickey again featured on the score sheet with two goals and one from the stick of Jack Sandy. The all-important final game was a straight match-up with John McGlashan College from Dunedin.

St Paul’s needed a win or a draw to secure a quarter-final spot. Unfortunately,

it wasn’t to be, with the boys being edged out 1-0 in a very intense encounter. Auckland Grammar secured the top spot in Pool D to advance with John McGlashan into the quarter-finals.

In Pool A, Otago Boys’ came out top after three 1-0 victories and Westlake came through second. St Andrews dominated Pool B, with New Plymouth Boys’ (last year’s champions) edging out Whangarei Boys’ for second spot. The final two teams into the play off from Pool D were Palmerston North Boys’ High and King’s College. PNBHS taking top spot after a very intense encounter.

The traditional Tanner Cup dinner took place on Monday night. We were very fortunate to have two former Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallists (Manchester 2002) Umesh Parag and Mitesh Patel joined by current Black Stick and Commonwealth games silver medallist (Gold Coast 2018) Aidan Sarikaya. It was a fantastic evening with lots of questions and engagement from the boys in the dining hall.

Tuesday’s action was quarterfinal time and there were some great matchups. Palmerston North Boys’ proved too strong for Westlake winning 2-0. New Plymouth Boys’ found some form, overcoming Auckland Grammar. King’s College comfortably beat Otago Boys’ 4-1 and St Andrews College produced the comeback of the tournament to edge out John McGlashan 3-2.

St Paul’s made it into the top 12 with a thrilling shoot-out victory over Tauranga Boys’ College. Tyler Percy-Graham is doing a fantastic job in the goal to see St. Paul’s through. Unfortunately, St Paul’s was soundly beaten by Christ’s College 3-0 in the next match which saw the team end up in a play-off for 11th with Cambridge High.

Another tight match where St Paul’s failed to break down the Cambridge defence, St Paul’s lost 1-0 and settling for 12 th place with some creditable performances over the week against some very strong opposition.

At the business end of the tournament Palmerston North Boys’ continued their fine run of form with a 2-1 over New Plymouth Boys’ and King’s saw off a strong challenge from St Andrews to take the teams both from Pool C into the final.

In the final days action Whangarei Boys’ came away with 9th place earning the first ever Tanner Cup Plate Award. The bronze medal match saw St Andrews play an outstanding match, pulling off a 6-1 victory over New Plymouth Boys’.

The Final was always going to be tight, and it went right to the wire finishing in a 2-2 draw. A nail biting shoot out followed with King’s emerging after the second round of sudden death to claim their second Tanner Cup Trophy.

A special mention goes to international umpire and Waikato Hockey stand in umpire development manager Lani Nichol for her outstanding job managing and mentoring the umpires along with support from Chris Neale, providing valuable development opportunities for officials. The level of officiating was certainly the strongest it has been at the Tanner Cup.

Final Placings:

1. King’s College

2. Palmerston North Boys’ High

3. St Andrews College

4. New Plymouth Boys’ High

5. Otago Boys’ High

6. Westlake Boys’ High School

7. Auckland Grammar School

8. John McGlashan College

9. Whangarei Boys’ High

10. Christ’s College

11. Cambridge High School

12. St. Paul’s Collegiate School

13. Hamilton Boys ‘High

14. Tauranga Boys’ College

15. Wellington College

16. Rotorua Boys’ High School