As the winter season drew to a close and the cold, wet weather became the norm, it was business time for many UHC teams across our sporting codes, who were competing in finals. Sports Activator Chris Campbell reports.

Congratulations to all of the sides who qualified for finals, it is a great achievement to be at the top of the pack come the end of the season! Here is a quick look at how our UHC sides got on.

Football

The college was incredibly proud to turn out seven competitive football teams in the 2022 season and we had a staggering 5 out of the 7 participating in Finals footy!!! It was an all UHC affair in the Hutt Valley Division 3 competition that saw our Junior Girls face off against UHC Purple in the final. Both teams were standouts from early on with the UHC sides sitting 1st or 2nd on the ladder the entire season. 

The teams are guided by 2 fantastic coaches Tony Buckley and Mr Peter Blank (Junior & Purple respectively). The final promised to be a tense and close affair. It didn't disappoint! It was a great game for the neutral and heart palpitating for the coaches. The Junior Girls edged the end to end fixture and came out 2-0 winners to be crowned champions. On their way to the silverware they amassed 47 goals for and only 8 against, with striker Jess Buckley netting 21 goals for the season.

The 1st XI girls were also in the final of the Hutt Valley League. Their season was a two horse race with local rivals Heretaunga College. 

Our girls came up short against HC in our school exchange a month or so prior, so they knew it would be another tough game but were confident that if they played their dynamic style of football, built on intensity, that they would have the ability to cause an upset. 

Everything looked to be going to plan when Year 9 Mela Campbell put us in front midway through the first half, however, Heretaunga capitalised on a lapse towards half time and we went into the break 2-1 down. 

We had our chances to get back into the game and as we searched for the equaliser we left ourselves vulnerable to the counter attack. Lily Candy who was playing in only her 3rd game in goal for us made a string of excellent saves to keep us in the tie but unfortunately we came up short and lost 3-1. The girls now shift their attention to Nationals in Blenheim. Best of luck girls!

For the boys, we had two senior sides challenging for titles at Rongotai College on Saturday 27 August - UHC Gold in Division 6 and UHC Blue in Division 7. Both sides are a credit to the school and are well supported by parent coaches Steve Wood (Gold) and Jason McHenry (Blue). The Gold Boys knew they were going into the final as underdogs against a Kapiti College side who had dominated the division from game one. 

Our boys had a great attitude and fought admirably during the 90 minutes and played some fast paced, attractive footy throughout the final. Unfortunately the boys were outgunned, going down 3-1 in what was Kapiti's toughest game all season.

The Blue boys were facing a resolute Onslow College side in their final that turned out to be the showpiece of the day. Onslow took the lead however, UHC created plenty of chances and dramatically had a goal disallowed after Thuan Kieu found the back of the net from what was deemed an offside position. 

Showing great desire and spirit we got our reward late in the game forcing the match to a penalty shoot out. I am sure there was a quiet confidence throughout the side knowing that Onslow would have to beat inform shot stopper Anjola Sigbeku from the spot to have a chance of taking the silverware. 

Finals make heros and Anjola was our hero. Our boys calmly slotted their spot kicks and the domineering figure of Anjola saved 2 of Onslow's, thus resulting in a 5-3 win and the medals around UHC necks! Champions!

Netball

What was expected to be a "rebuilding" year for our Senior A netball team, turned out to be so much more. The team saw new young faces in the playing roster and a new coach, Mrs Shelley Shaw, at the helm in 2022. 

The girls built on their success at the Regional Champs earlier in the season and cemented a spot in the final against Scots College. In sport, teams can have an off day and it just happened that our off day was in the final. Scots were deserved winners in the end but the character that the girls have shown all season has been exemplary and they are motivated to exact some revenge at the Lower North Island Champs in Hawkes Bay during Winter Tournament Week. 

Well done on a great season girls and best of luck at Lower Norths. With the bulk of the side returning next season, we look forward to 2023 in anticipation.

Rugby

It has been another successful season for the 1st XV this year, coached by the father and son duo Ross and Kemara Tukukino with the help of Henry Grey. 

The boys unfortunately bowed out of the Premier 2 competition at the semi final stage against Wellington College however, it was the Co-Ed cup competition that highlighted the boy's season.

After winning a close contest at home against Aotea, the 1st XV booked their spot in the Wellington Co-Ed Cup against Bishop Viard College, to be played on the hallowed turf of Jerry Collins Stadium in Porirua. 

Viard would have been right to surmise that they would have the bulk of the support on the night, however, UHC supporters descended on Jerry Collins Stadium en masse and played the part of 16th man! 

The game was a tight and physical affair as you would expect for a final. Flynn Morgan (or Captain Morgan as he was called by the ground announcer) has been the catalyst for much of the team's success this season and his positional kicking game was truly outstanding in the final. 

Viard, try as they might, were camped in their own half for much of the game. The moment of the match came from young Tawhi Mahuri-Tukukino, who showed incredible vision and skill execution to punch through a kick and land it right on the money for winger Brontyn Jane to dot down. 

The game ebbed and flowed however UHC kept their noses in front throughout and won the match 27-14.

After being crowned Wellington Co-Ed Cup champions and safely securing the trophy in the gym cabinet for the first time since 2010, the boys faced the daunting challenge of Wanganui Collegiate for a spot in the Hurricanes Region Co-Ed Cup final. 

It proved to be a step too far, our boys going down at Maidstone Park 57-7.

Congratulations to all of our sides that played in finals this year and like always, thanks to all of the volunteers and parents that help make sport at UHC tick. To keep an eye on all of the Winter Tournament Week action make sure you follow UHC Sport on Facebook and Instagram.