Today was one of those days, weather-wise, when you hope you haven't got to go outside at all as it was raining .........hard!! However as we come to the closing part of the tour we can count ourselves lucky that this is the first time since we have been in the NZ winter that the weather has been bad.
We must mention Mr. Liggett and his superb organizational skills, although his choice of coach drivers does leave something to be desired at times. The one that turned up today was a real character. Apparently some 63 years ago he had worked as the stunt co-ordinator for the high-speed car chases in the original Hollywood production of Driving Miss Daisy!!
The day started on a real high for the staff as they thrashed the living daylights out of the pupils on a very technical Go-Karting track. Luckily, the staff team were only handicapped with one female driver (obviously male comments from Messers Chester & Clarke!!!!!!!) and Mr Holmes self esteem took a boost as he enjoyed his victory lap with the chequered flag!
After the Karting it was back to school for the matches as the final action of the New Zealand 2010 tour.
After the matches we enjoyed a superb after match function where boys and girls joined together. Thankyou speeches from our rugby (Sam Callaghan) and hockey captains (Gabby Little) responded to the St Kentigern's captains and we said our formal thank-yous and made presentations to the school staff . The food was fantastic and made it a perfect formal ending to our tour. It was then back to billets for the last night of New Zealand hospitality.
Match 6 Hockey vs Saint Kentigerns College.
Our last match on tour was always going to be an emotional one for Gabby Little, Hannah Crawshay, Helen Rowe-Willcocks, Ellie Rimmer and Katie Holder as it would be their last ever school hockey match and they were keen to go out on a high! Unfortunately we were greeted with the worst weather of the tour and the very wet and partly flooded pitch meant playing conditions were not going to be easy.
We again started slowly and St Kentigern's were quick out of the blocks and we found ourselves behind after only two minutes!!! Not a great start! We had to defend several corners in the first 5 minutes but we did this well and started to get our game together and enjoy some possession of our own. A great run down the left from Vicki Hives saw us create a scoring opportunity but unfortunately her efforts resulted in her falling and twisting her ankle - thankfully one of the rare injuries we have incurred on tour. We earned a corner in the 10th minute after good work from Natasha Singleton but Melissa Bentley's shot flew just wide. We started to grow in confidence and good play down the right with Lottie Owen, Natasha and Mel combining well saw us create a number of chances and we should have levelled the score in the 12th minute when a cross from Natasha was delivered infront of goal but we failed to direct it goal wards. The latter part of the half saw us dominate play and we deserved to get on even terms having created a number of chances and earned corners but great goalkeeping and shots just off target meant we went into the break one down.
We started the second half on a positive note, but as the rain got harder playing conditions deteriorated. We again dominated play and only another good save denied Melissa at our first corner of the half. Saint Kentigerns then started to get back into the game with their skilful forwards posing our defenders a number of problems with their movement off the ball and their direct running with the ball, but excellent work at the back by Captain Gabby Little and keeping from ‘player of the match' Abbey Hesketh kept the score down to one. Saint Kentigerns were rewarded for their period of pressure in the 42nd minute when we failed to react to a free hit and allowed Saint Kentigerns to drive into the circle but the forward's reverse hit shot to score was a very special skill. This goal knocked us back as we had failed to score after enjoying so much possession and had so many chances and the game was put beyond us when Saint Kentigerns scored in the 45th and 47th minute after good passing moves. To our great credit we did pick ourselves up and put the Saint Kentigerns defence under pressure again late in the game and Joanne Ker was denied by a diving keeper. We got some reward for our efforts with a couple of minutes to go when Natasha Singleton picked up a rebound off the keeper, after more good work from Melissa Bentley in front of goal, and forced the ball into the goal.
The final score 1 - 4 did not totally reflect the game as at one stage the game could have gone either way if we had scored during our period of pressure but all the players can take great credit from the superb performance in difficult conditions at the end of a long tour.
Score: 1 - 4 Scorer: Natasha Singleton Player of the Match - AbbeyHesketh
Final Hockey Tour Results:
Played : 6 Won 3 Lost 3 GF 19 GA 14
Top Scorers:
Melissa Bentley - 7 Katie Holder - 4 Natasha Singleton - 3
Joanne Ker - 2 Vicki Hives - 2 Lottie Owen - 1
This has been a great tour on the pitch as we can boast three wins against top New Zealand opposition. Playing in one of the greatest sporting nations, and against some of the strongest sporting schools was always going to difficult but every player has developed during the tour and I look forward to taking this forward to next season and for those moving on I hope the tour will have provided them with many happy hockey memories.
Rugby Report vs St Kentigern's
We arrived at St. Kentigern's about an hour before kick off and the omens were positive. The warm-up was intense, no doubt inspired by the words sent from Mr. Rudd. The heavens had opened and the ground was wet but we were determined to end the tour with a performance that we could be proud of. The players lined up on the 10 metre line to receive the HAKA, when an additional 100 pupils from the school joined the St Kentigern's team on the half way line. The magnificent spectacle echoed around the school as the KEQMS squad absorbed the atmosphere and prepared for the game.
The first ten minutes were fierce as both sides exchanged blows at a remarkable pace. However, hampered by the weather, regular mistakes ensured turnover to each team. Playing into a stiff wind 10 minutes in, a penalty allowed the home side to kick field position and score a well worked try from the resulting lineout 7-0. St Kentigern's continued to pin KEQMS in their own half putting boot to ball and looking for the turn over. However fierce tackles from Kelham O'Hanlon and Nick Barker kept the attack at bay until 32 minutes when a quick tap at a free kick saw the number 8 crash over from close range (12-0). Unable to clear line through kicking, the tourists started to run aggressively and with some purpose, working their way towards the St Kentigern's line. The tourists started to string some good phases together, led by Sam Callaghan and Charlie Cooke making ground and creating quick ball. This allowed Sandy Tonge to make a superb line break in the midfield and as the play surged forward only the final pass stopped what would have been a spectacular try. On regaining possession KEQMS continued again bombarding the home defence and gaining hard yards up the field but a wayward pass allowed an interception as the St Kentigern's outside centre ran in from inside his own 22, half time score 19-0.
From the KO St Kentigern's attacked in to the wind keeping the ball for long periods of time. The tourist showed great determination in defence to keep them out holding the ball up over the line on two occasions. On 56 minutes with a scrum on the 22 St Kentigern's backs broke the line to score making the score 26-0. From the kick off KEQMS surged in to action pressuring the catcher and gaining possession, this was the start of a determined fight back as Tom Webb skipped over the ruck to score in the corner, 26-5. A period of sustained pressure again saw Tom Webb exploit a gap near the home line on 57 minutes to bring the score to 26-12. Hungry for the big come back the visitors received a penalty in their own 22 and Kellham O'Hanlon stepped up to punt a Dan Carter'esque ball 70 meters to pin the home team back in their own 22. From the resulting lineout, Alex McWillam-Grey broke through to be pulled down 2 metres out, the forwards continued to bombards the line only to be held up. The pressure continued as O'Hanlon powered forward to be caught short of the line. KEQMS continued to fight back, searching for a much deserved try only to be beaten by time.
This was by far the best performance of the tour with the squad playing the most creative and direct rugby seen so far. What was also impressive was the intensity in which both teams played from start to finish. The coach Mr Thompson of St Kentigern's later commented on the game, saying "The last 15 minutes had me worried, I thought you guys were going to come back and pinch it" he went on to say "You must be happy with the fitness of the boys, being able to put a performance in like that at the end of a gruelling tour".
