Otago Boys' wins NZ title
The eight teams were divided into two pools, with one South Island team in each pool. The first pool match was against Hastings Boys' and due to overnight rain it was a crucial toss to win. Unfortunately, OBHS lost the toss and was sent into bat on a very soft wicket. Runs were hard to come by but the batsmen worked hard and after 20 overs were 51 for 2. The track became easier as the day progressed and OBHS ended up with a respectable total of 143/6 off its 40 overs.
Blake Buttar-Scurr top-scored with 61.
Hastings was confident of making that total but due to some excellent bowling from Blake Buttar-Scurr (3/7 off 5 overs) and Taine Bayly (4/10 off 8 overs) they were not able to build any partnerships and were bowled out for 67, giving Otago Boys' a win by 76 runs.
In the second match, Otago Boys' had to play the winners of the Auckland region, who were the formidable team from St Kentigern's College.
St Kentigern's made a very good start to its innings and at one stage was 95 for 3 wickets off 31 overs. Bayly soon turned things around when he came on to bowl for his second spell and took a hat-trick. This started a major St Kentigern's collapse and it was soon all out for 111.
Otago Boys' batted very sensibly and took its time to slowly build the innings, passing the required score with the loss of only two wickets. Jarryd Taig made 49 not out and Dylan Buttar-Scurr 28 not out.
This was a big morale-boosting win by 8 wickets.
The last pool match was against a strong St Paul's Collegiate side from Hamilton and was played on a very good batting strip.
Otago Boys' suffered a setback before the start of the game when Tony Cardno broke his thumb during warm-up drills.
St Paul's won the toss and batted first and made 209 for 6 off 40 overs. After losing an early wicket, Otago Boys' was always going to struggle to make the total so it was decided to take out the calculators to determine what run rate would be required to get the team through to the finals.
It came down to Otago Boys' needing to make at least 150/6 (Blake Buttar-Scurr 38 no, Taine Bayly 29).
The cross pool play-off for first and second position was between Otago Boys' and Hutt International Boys' School.
Otago won the toss and decided to bat first. The side made steady progress even though it lost regular wickets and ended up with a respectable total of 149/9.
Otago Boys' struck early in the Hutt innings and had the team from Wellington at 22/3 before Hutt staged a great fightback and put on an 80-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The pressure started to mount for both teams and with its overs remaining Hutt needed 15 runs and the odds were in its favour.
However, Otago Boys' did not give up and thanks to some excellent bowling by Matt Dukes, Blake Buttar-Scurr and Bayly they were able to restrict the batsmen.
Otago Boys' won the final by seven runs to be crowned the national champion.
Columba College
Despite clashes with the National Age Group Swimming Championships and an Otago/Southland water polo tournament, Columba College again showed its strength in triathlon and duathlon with wins in every team event that it entered and an individual senior bronze (Tara Bennett U19 duathlon) at the SISS Triathlon and Duathlon Championships in Oamaru.
The girls are preparing for the Otago Secondary Schools Duathlon championships next month and have been working hard on their cycling and running during term 1.
The Columba College cycling team attended the Otago/Southland Secondary Schools Road Cycling Championships in Invercargill late last month, with excellent results in a first-up appearance. Columba was third in the overall points standings, with a strong showing in the under-15 division.
The under-15 cyclists dominated the individual time trial, road race and teams' time trial.
Megan Foley won the road race and was second in the individual time trial. Ruby Knight was second in the individual time trial and third in the road race.
Phoebe Swale was first in the individual time trial and fourth in the road race, after taking a powerful turn in the front of the pack to lead Columba team riders to their strong finish.
The final points standings placed Megan Foley first, Phoebe Swale second and Ruby Knight third in the under-15 division. In the under-19 division, Laura Bridger showed her strength, placing first in the road race and third in the individual time trial to earn second in the overall points standing.
The team has been working with the Otago Schools Cycling League (OSCL), sponsored by Wilkinson-Adams Lawyers and mentored by Suzy Pryde and Chris Drake. The team is aiming to attend the South Island and National Secondary Schools Road Cycling Championships this year, a first for Columba College.
Blue Mountain College
At the recent Otago-Southland water-ski championships at Perkins Pond, year 12 pupil Elliot Hancox won the Novice 16 and under section with the school team of Elliot, Sam Perkins and Zoe Hancox placing third in the teams event.
Athletics has also been strong for Blue Mountain College with Ben Rea, Yvonne van Baarle, Jordyn Ritchie, Josie Mariu and Ashleigh White gaining top three placings at the Otago Secondary School Athletics.
At the Otago/Southland Athletics, Ben Rea, Yvonne van Baarle, Tamara Weller, Josie Mariu, Ashleigh White and Gavin Stark all gained top-three placings.
At just 12 years of age, Y9 pupil Yvonne van Baarle re- wrote the Otago/Southland Athletic record books in the U14 javelin, throwing 27.02m to break the old 1978 record of 26.8m. Considering Yvonne will still be under 14 in 2013, she has potential in several disciplines to capture further records.
Gavin Stark has just returned from the NZ Track and Field Championships in Auckland where he was fourth in both the 100m and 200m events and achieved personal-best times.
This followed a long-term injury that hampered his training build-up.
South Otago High School
South Otago High School competed successfully in the SISS Touch Tournament in Christchurch, winning the mixed grade. This qualified the team to attend the Nationals in Hamilton in December. Mikayla Latta, an outstanding touch player, was picked to be a part of the NZ under-15 team.
The school equestrian team finished fourth overall in the Taieri Secondary Schools event in late March. Results: Individual prizes, Class 1, Stephanie Joyce, 95cm jumping, 3. Class 2, Melissa Joyce, dressage, 2; Bailey Rutter 85cm show jumping, 2, and also 85cm show cross, 2. Class 4, Brittany Pyne, dressage, 1, and 65 show cross, 4.
South Otago High School head girl Amelia (Millie) Shaw won the Otago Southland Secondary Schools water-skiing event.
Liam Whitmore attended the Otago/Southland Road cycling and was placed sixth overall in his age group.
Queen's High School
Term one has been busy for the Queen's Year 11 PE pupils.
As part of their Kiwisport programme, they have been coaching small groups at St Clair School and Bathgate Park School in a variety of sports, including football, basketball, athletics, touch, cricket and netball. A highlight for these girls was to marshall for the Sport Otago Primary Schools Individual Triathlon. It is hoped that many of these girls will continue to coach at school or local clubs.
Initiatives for the school have been karate, bowls and the Junior Sport development programme which is supported by the Kiwisport funding initiative.
Karate is held twice a week and local club members join the pupils once a week.
Five pupils entered the Otago secondary schools bowls competition with a further 10 participating regularly at the St Clair Bowling Club.
The Sport development pupils have been working with Otago Netball and Otago Touch to develop sport-related skill fitness.
Christina Ashton has been impressive at the Otago and Otago/Southland Athletics Champs. Christina, a year 10 pupil, won the under-15 girls 100m at both events. She finished second in the 80m hurdles at the Otago Championships and won at the Otago/Southland meet. Christina topped off these performances with three personal bests at the SISS Champs in Nelson. She won the 100m and 80m hurdles, breaking the South Island record in the hurdles.
She was also second in the triple jump.
Calendar of events
20 April: SISS Orienteering, Christchurch
22 April: Age-group golf, Oamaru
27 April: Basketball competition starts, Dunedin
These articles are compiled by the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association (OSSSA) which is proudly sponsored by Perpetual. Contact Des Smith, Otago Regional Sports Director, PO Box 6303, Dunedin. Email: des@osssa.org.nz
