School House News
By Matthew Markham | Posted: Sunday September 2, 2018
The Hoops Army travel to Christchurch to support the 1st XV. Meanwhile, the hostel shooters enjoyed success in Central Otago.
The 1st XV couldn't quite manage a win against Christchurch Boys', the Hoops Army certainly won the battle of the supporters. Vastly outnumbered by Christchurch Boys' supporters the Hoops Army were the more vocal with a haka, numerous chants and even duck callers. With perfect early spring weather and a dry field it was a spectacular game with both teams willing to attack from anywhere. Three tries to speedster Michael Manson and one to Tevita Asi meant that hostel boys dominated the scoring. Marika Parker and James Arscott also had strong games. The match was a real contest, but was played in great spirit. The army boys behaviour was excellent and they were a credit to the school and the hostel. Well done boys! Despite the loss there was a lot of chat on the bus about next season and how the hostel could support the 1st XV even more. The Year 9's are especially keen that next years Year 9's continue on the Hoops Army tradition.
The trap shooters competed in two competitions over the weekend. The first event was the Wanaka Intercollegiate Shoot. After a promising training on Wednesday, all the boys were shooting in the high teens (out of twenty). We started off with skeet, all the boys showed promise but no placings.
It was much the same story with single rise and point score for most of the boys. Nick Sim pulled off an almost perfect score of 59 out of 60 with 2nd place in the point score. Then, in the single barrel, Jake Burgess came out with a perfect score shooting ten out of ten, which put him in a shoot off for the top three. Unfortunately, Jake was first up on stand number one and was thrown a hard-left hander and shot just behind it, but he still came away with a very solid 3rd place. The team finished 5th overall.
Looking for more hardware for the trophy cabinet back home we headed off to Alexandra for the Taieri Shield Intercollegiate Competition. As with Wanaka we started the day with skeet. All the boys in the team shot low teens (out of 25), which was very good for us as skeet is a bit of an alien concept, only practicing it as a team twice. Yet Nick Sim pulled out a score of 24, an unreal effort putting him straight on top. We then moved on to point score. As expected the boys shot well but nothing overly amazing. We then rocked up to the single rise shoot. Once again all the boys came through with a ripper of a shoot, all scoring in the high teens. Henry Sim pulling off a clean score, an unheard of accomplishment. Henry then moved onto the nail biting shoot off that seemed to go on for ever. It came down to Henry and one other shooter and unfortunately the other shooter out lasted Henry, but he still came out with a silver medal. Then came single barrel. All eyes were on the lads after the exceptional single barrel shooting the day before, with Henry coming out on top. It was yet another long and grueling shoot for Henry. This time out lasting his brother Nick who came second in the same event, but this time he came out on top with a high over all placing putting yet another Otago hostel boy on top of everyone else. Thank you to all the parents for your help and especially coach Ernie Webb, for his guidance and support.
Report by Harry Brenssell
This week we have a number of boys involved in tournament week and then the Green Island Tens Rugby Competition on Sunday where the hostel has entered a junior and senior team. Good luck to all boys involved, a full report will be included in next weeks School House News. If there are any parents going on tournament please send me some photos, I would love to include some in next weeks newsletter.
Next Sunday, we have a compulsory Year 9 and 10 (for those boys in) activities day at Berwick camp, which is out by the airport. Activities are: an assault course, 4WD recovery, atomic wedgie crazy swing, a high level rope courses, and push kart racing. It should be a really fun day and all years are welcome. The boys will need to bring some old clothes as it promises to be very muddy!
Hostel parent teacher interviews are set up for Friday 28th September between 12.20pm to 1.50pm.
Please use the following link to access bookings - https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code?code=7rv9k. If you have issues using this link then please go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and manually enter the code 7rv9k. Afterwards you are welcome to stay and watch the annual Hostel vs Day Boys league match.
Have a great week.
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