This year four of our top sports teams headed away to various locations around New Zealand to compete in Winter Tournament Week. Here is a run down about each how each side fared.

Senior A Netball Team Shines at Lower North Island Tournament

The Senior A Netball team recently participated in the Lower North Island Tournament in Napier, where they showed incredible team spirit, determination, and resilience.

Each game brought a mix of nerves and excitement, with every player stepping up to give their all on the court. The team's hard work paid off, securing a 10th-place finish out of 32 teams.

Off the court, the team enjoyed plenty of special bonding moments, from van rides filled with laughter and karaoke to team activities like a Ratatouille movie night and Masterchef Dessert Night.

The final game was especially emotional for the Year 13 players, who took the court for the last time as part of the Senior A team. The final whistle marked a victory, sealing 10th place, and the entire team came together in a tearful but joyful group hug.

Results as follows:

Tournament Results:

Day 1:

• Napier Blue – Win, Nga Tawa – Win

Day 2:

• Central Hawkes Bay – Loss, Chilton – Loss

Day 3:

• Te Paepae o Aotea – Loss, Mano Taiohi – Win

Day 4:

• Waiopehu – Win, Napier White – Win

Last day:

• Napier Blue – Loss, Naenae – Win

Final Standing:

• Finished 10th out of 32 teams

Basketball almost qualify for Nationals after sharp performances

The Senior Boys’ basketball team had a competitive week at their tournament in Palmerston North, going up against some tough opponents and finishing in the top 8 —a remarkable achievement! 

The tournament saw UHC secure two key victories. The team started strong with a commanding win against Kapiti College, 79-56, followed by another hard-fought victory over Whanganui High School, 76-65.

However, despite close matches, UHC faced tough losses to St Bernard’s College (65-71) and Palmerston North Boys' High School (41-81). Reaching the top 8 quarterfinals, the team went up against Wellington College but fell short with a 56-87 loss.

In a tight 1-8 semi-final against Manukura—a national qualifying game—UHC narrowly lost 53-58 in what was one of their best performances.

In their final game for 7th and 8th place, UHC faced a dominant St Patrick’s College Silverstream, finishing the tournament with a 48-98 loss.

Individually, Iziyah Karehana led the team in scoring with 84 points and an average of 12 points per game. Neihana Poutu contributed 69 points (avg 9.9), while Isaiah Kautai added 62 points (avg 8.9). The whole team’s effort and determination were clear throughout the tournament.

Special thanks go to Julz, our dedicated team manager, and assistant coaches Rodney and JC, who gave their time to help our boys grow not only as basketball players but also in life.

A heartfelt thank you also to Dean Antipas, the backbone of UHC’s basketball programme, for his ongoing commitment and support of our basketballers. Your dedication means the world to us! We also wish the Year 13's all the best for the future and thank them for everything they have done for UHC basketball over the years. 

Boys' 1st XI Football Impress in New Plymouth

The Upper Hutt College Boys' 1st XI football team traveled to New Plymouth to compete in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Development Tournament. Despite being a young team, UHC performed exceptionally well, losing only one game during pool play and showcasing their talent and determination and teamwork throughout the competition.

 Results:

• 1-0 Win vs Gisborne Boys' High School: UHC kicked off the tournament with a narrow but well-deserved victory.

• 3-0 Win vs Francis Douglas Memorial College: The team continued their strong start, dominating the match with a clinical performance.

• 1-3 Loss vs Hamilton Boys' High School: In a tough encounter, UHC faced the eventual tournament winners, putting up a brave fight.

• 0-0 Draw vs Hamilton Christian School: A closely contested match saw both teams hold firm in defense.

• 4-2 Win vs Otahuhu College: UHC bounced back with a confident win, showcasing their attacking prowess.

• 5-1 Win vs New Plymouth Boys' High School: The team delivered a commanding performance against the hosts.

• 2-2 Draw vs Napier Boys' High School (Lost 4-3 on penalties): In a thrilling game, UHC was unfortunate to miss out in the penalty shootout.

After narrowly missing out on the quarterfinals due to goal difference, the best the boys could achieve was 9th place, a commendable finish given the high level of competition. The team also had some fun off the field, participating in the annual quiz night (congratulations Richie Smyrnis) and displaying some acting skills during charades.

In a light-hearted twist, players drew their positions for the final match out of a hat, with Hayden Lewis thrilled to take up the goalkeeper's role.

A massive thanks goes to Simon and AJ for their invaluable assistance throughout the week, and to the players who represented Upper Hutt College with excellence both on and off the field. We also bid farewell to our two Year 13 players, Ryan Jones and James Hill. Their contributions to UHC football over the years have been invaluable, and we wish them all the best for the future.

The future looks bright for this team, as they finished a respectable 9th out of 24 teams. The boys have set a solid foundation for the years to come, and we look forward to seeing their continued success.

Girls 1st XI Football lay great foundations for the future

A very young 1st XI Football girls team travelled to the Gary Snowden tournament in Blenheim, where the team applied themselves to the task of competing with much older and experienced teams. 

With regular coach Dan unable to attend, Tony Kovacs stepped up with great enthusiasm.  The team was led by Keira Williams and Karley McHenry.

The team battled hard, on great fields, and showed they could match the opposition in most games. Although it took a number of games, the team eventually enjoyed a well deserved 2-1 win over Ashburton College and finished 14th overall.

Due to the great spirit and outstanding attitude of the girls, the team won the Fairplay award for the third year in a row, with the organisers commenting that should the team remain together, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Year 9 student Emily Johnson was named the MVP for the tournament with some strong performances playing predominantly as a central defensive midfielder.  

International student Yuna Kishida also excelled and scored some great goals.

A big thanks to the many parents and wider whānau who supported the team over the week.