St Matthew?s dominate annual winter sports tournament

St MATTHEW'S Collegiate were the dominant side in both the senior A netball and the hockey at their annual winter quadrangular sports tournament with Nga Tawa (Marton), Iona College (Havelock North) and hosts Woodford House (Havelock North).
Their victories meant St Matthew's won the overall cup for the top performing school., the first time since 2000 that had held all three trophies up for grabs at this tourney.
The netball team opened with a closely-fought game with Iona.
They were level pegging at 16-16 at halftime, but St Matthew's kept their cool in the last quarter and. took the honours 28-27.
Woodford House, last year's netball winners, also offered stern opposition.
St Matthew's actually trailed 10-9 at halftime but again finished the stronger of the two sides to win 23-18.
It was easier going for St Matthew's in their final game against Nga Tawa.
They were always in control and won comfortably 37-17.
The accurate shooting of Sophie Ross was a big plus for St Matthew's along with the strong defence of Ashley McDougall and Ella Biggs and the dynamic mid-court work of Pip Lynch.
The successful side was: Sophie Ross, Ashley McDougall, Harriet Somerville, Pip Lynch, Kate Cameron-Donald, Milly Bell, Ella Biggs, Jesse Smith, Sophie Deans, Pea Mathewson, Rosie Broughton, Marion Tulloch (coach), Jo Rutherford (manager).
In the hockey St Matthew's struggled early in their opening game against Iona but eventually got their act together and won easily ay 5-0.
The match against Woodford House saw St Matthew's race out to a 3-0 lead by halftime and Woodford House score three goals in the second half to even things up at 3-3.
Needing to win their last game against Nga Tawa to win the hockey trophy St Matthew's made every post a winner in the wet conditions, scoring four goals and conceding just one.
Georgie Wallace and Olivia Wratt were doughty defenders through the tourney, Ashleigh Schaef impressed with her determination and aggression and Kylie Henderson was the mainstay of the attack.
The successful side was: Taasha Henson, Kylie Henderson, Ashleigh Schaef, Charlotte Meo, Olivia Wratt, Steph Sloan, Kelsy Smith, Georgie Wallace, Annie Mahoney, Harriet Cameron, Brittany Cullen, Libby Monaghan, Ellen Schaef, Paul Sargent (coach), Jayne Cameron (manager).