Holiday Hockey News

It has been a busy holiday period for a number of our young stars playing in the Junior State Hockey Championships. Emily Ash was goalie for the U13 team with Phoebe Russell also playing some excellent hockey in that side. Hannah Russell was a member of the U17 side. A great achievement for all these players.

Miss Kristen Waldron

Boys' Hockey

The final ten days of term saw a feast of hockey to report on with all boys’ teams playing twice in less than a week as we cleared the air for the holidays.

The two Under 16 teams squared off on the school field and Gold turned the tables on Blue in a close and entertaining encounter. Dougal Sweeney and Reagan Simons found the net for the winners and Tane Nelson scored for Blue in the final minute of the game. Blue struggled to get their usual game established although they had the early run of the ball. Gold goalie Marcus Munro was superb and made several fine saves. This lifted his team and Owen Priestley, Will Merrin, Peter Finch and Darcy Wall contributed well. The two goalscorers were key players, controlling the game from central positions and bringing team-mates into play. It was Dougal’s best game of the season to date. For Blue, Tane Nelson was impressive and consistent and Charles Cain and Archie Cameron worked hard.

Each team played again on the final Saturday before the holidays with Blue accounting for Monivae 4-0 while Gold went down 1-2 to Demons. Ferg Roberts with two, Eren Zehir and Matt Spence were Blue’s scorers – Matt’s goal was his first hockey goal and it was well celebrated by his team-mates. Max Green, Harrison Hocking and Tane Nelson were key players, along with the goalscorers. Gold played some impressive hockey, Zac Cunningham’s goal being a superb hockey goal with crisp passes from deep at full back finding the player on the spot to slot the ball home. Tobe and Jock Adamson, Jack Wall and Clancy Munro showed out along with the goalscorer.

I hope that players have worked on their hockey skills individually over the break – keep running also, boys! Mrs Winter Cooke will return and resume her role with Gold. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the boys in her absence and it has been exciting to watch them develop as a team. Mrs Nichols has her Blue team well-positioned on top of the ladder but the rest of the competition is catching up and they need to work hard to maintain their position.

The Open team played a week early on a Friday night to avoid trying to play when they were returning from Shepparton. We were grateful to our scheduled opponents for agreeing to play the game early. As many of the Bulls players are Old Collegians, they were keen to play on the school field which made re-scheduling easier to manage. We played an exceptional first half and found ourselves 4-0 up early in the second period before finishing 4-1 victors. Liam McMaugh, Josh Read, Tom Bunge and Captain Thomas Verco scored the goals – “Ready” tried hard to poach “Morgs”’ goal but sportingly agreed it was Liam’s at game’s end! In addition to the scorers, Jack Green and Thomas Dufty continued their stellar form on the half-line, Sami Zehir ran himself into the ground and Lachie Holcombe enjoyed a foray up the field late in the match.

The boys fronted up again on the final Sunday of term against Demons. Another fine first half saw them power to a 6-1 victory with the Captain scoring another hat-trick while Josh Read, Reagan Simons and Dylan Cunningham added singles. Dylan’s goal was his first at Senior level and was taken with aplomb. Once again, effective team-play, quick ball movement and crisp passing marked our play with the action primarily in our forward half.

At the holiday break, College is on top of the Men’s ladder. They have played some excellent hockey and I trust they can continue this team approach on the resumption. Captain Thomas Verco has very effectively taken the lead at training and he will continue to do this in my absence in Third Term. Miss Waldron will keep an eye out for the boys organisationally and Mr Nelson, Mr Smith, Peter Musson and David Merrin provide adult support, along with the efforts of Jane Bunge and Lorraine Verco who have helped on the bench during games. What impresses me most about the team is the level of ownership each player invests. This will stand them in good stead in the matches to come – and I hope to see them playing really well come finals time.

Most student members of the Open team, with the addition of Marcus Munro, Dougal Sweeney and Fergus Roberts, were in Shepparton at the end of last term competing in the annual ICCES Winter Tour competition. In addition both Dougal Sweeney and Reagan Simons competed at U15 level in the Junior State Championships for the South West Eagles during the holidays and Josh Read competed at U17 level.

Mr Neil MacLean

Head of Boys' Hockey

ICCES Hockey

For the third successive year, the College hockey team was successful in the annual ICCES competition against schools from five other country independent schools from around the state. Again, the carnival was held in Shepparton on the final days of Term Two.

Led by Captain Thomas Verco, the boys played exceptional hockey to remain undefeated during the competition, and winning the Final with their best performance of the two days. The score in the Final against Girton College from Bendigo was 4-1 with the Captain scoring twice and Liam McMaugh and Dougal Sweeney adding the other goals. The run of Tom Bunge, Sam Rowe and Fergus Roberts meant the Girton defence was under strong pressure throughout and the College midfield of Reagan Simons, Jack Green, Thomas Bunge, Dylan Cunningham and Josh Read ensured that Girton attacks were limited. In defence, Lachie Holcombe and goalie Marcus Munro were alert in keeping the Girton attack, which averaged nearly 4 goals a game in their other matches, well controlled.

I was very proud of the boys and of the way they worked together. They were a delight to travel with (as were the basketballers, netballers and soccer players) and approached the competition in the right spirit. What a great way to end the term!

Mr Neil MacLean

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