A record 19 teams from St Andrew’s College competed up and down the country during Winter Tournament Week, a highly anticipated annual event for secondary school sports in New Zealand.

It was exciting to see the results coming in as the various tournaments progressed, with St Andrew’s teams achieving some outstanding results at a national and South Island level.

Girls’ teams were centre stage, with the Girls’ 1st XI hockey team the standout performer, winning silver at the national Federation Cup Tournament. The Girls’ 1st XI football team finished seventh in their national tournament and was the top South Island team, while the Senior A Girls’ and Junior Girls’ basketball teams won South Island titles. Others to finish the week as South Island champions were the Junior Boys’ basketball team and the Senior Combined ice hockey team.

Success at this level doesn’t happen without enormous commitment, not only from the team members but also
from the teachers, coaching staff, and parent support.

Hockey

The St Andrew’s Girls’ 1st XI hockey team wrote themselves into the record books, making the final of the national Federation Cup Tournament for the first time in the College’s history. They stormed through the pool stage, winning their three games convincingly, and advancing to the top-eight crossover. A decisive 3–0 victory against St Hilda’s Collegiate paved their way for the quarter-final against Villa Maria College. This was an intense local battle that ended in a 2–2 draw leading to the team’s first shootout of the tournament. Some great work by goalkeeper, Hannah Hughes (Year 12), helped to secure a 3–1 shootout win. The semi-final against Westlake Girls’ High School, saw the team head to another shootout after a 1–1 score line at full time. The St Andrew’s team displayed nerves of steel, winning 4–2 in the shootout, with Hannah Hughes again pivotal, making three crucial saves. The final against powerhouse St Cuthbert’s College was a tightly contested match that resulted in another 1–1 draw, leading to yet another dramatic shootout. St Cuthbert's won the shootout 3–0 resulting in the only loss for the Girls’ 1st XI, who played outstanding hockey during the week to secure the national silver medal.

The Boys’ 1st XI also had a good national tournament finishing in sixth place in the India Shield at the Rankin Cup Tournament. The Girls’ 2nd XI was 10th in the Chris Arthur Cup competition.

Rugby

Four rugby teams represented St Andrew’s at various competitions during Winter Tournament Week, with highlights being the Boys’ U15A team finishing second at the South Island Secondary Schools’ U15 Rugby Tournament, and the Girls’ rugby team finishing second at the Buller 10’s Tournament.

The Boys’ U15A were unbeaten in their three matches before the final. They played a strong Southland Boys’ High School team in the final, going down 14–26. The girls’ team was also unbeaten until their final against Waimea College in the final. It was a close game, won by Waimea 12–17.

The U15 Development team finished in ninth place at the South Island Secondary Schools’ U15 Co-educational Rugby Tournament, and the 1st XV had no formal placing in their Quadrangular competition following three losses.

Basketball

The Girls’ Senior A basketball team continued their great form from local competitions to once again be crowned South Island champions. The team won every game comfortably, including a 75–58 win over Columba College in the quarter-final, and an 82–41 victory over Kaiapoi High School in the semi-final. This set up a final against old foes, Rangiora High School, but St Andrew’s was never really tested, taking the South Island title with a strong 73–54 victory.

The Boys’ Senior A team had a four-win, three-loss record during their tournament, to finish in seventh place overall, after beating Christchurch Boys’ High School in the playoff match for seventh and eighth.
Both the Junior Girls’ and Boys’ basketball teams performed extremely well to go unbeaten throughout the tournament, claiming the respective Junior Schools’ Zone 4 South Island Championships.

Netball

The Senior A netball team had three strong wins in pool play at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Netball Championships before facing St Hilda’s Collegiate School in a tense quarter-final. After narrowly winning that match 33–30, the team faced St Margaret’s College in the semi-final. It was a repeat of many of their battles in the local competition, with St Margaret’s coming out ahead 43–31. This put the Senior A girls into a playoff for third and fourth with Christchurch Girls’ High School, which was won by the opposition in another tight match, 30–35.

Football

The Girls’ 1st XI had great success at their National Premier Girls’ Football Tournament. After being unbeaten in pool play, the team lost 1–2 in a close quarter-final match up with Baradene College. This was followed by their only other loss of the tournament, 2–3 to Rangitoto College. This put the girls into the playoff for seventh and eighth against Napier Girls’ High School, which they won comfortably, 8–0.

The Boys’ 1st XI also started well in the Division 2 Malcolm Cowie Tournament, winning their pool play matches, however three losses at the end of the tournament saw them finish in 12th place overall.

Equestrian

Between them, the St Andrew’s equestrian team had three first placings and five second placings at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Equestrian Championships, which saw the team finish 13th overall.

Golf

St Andrew’s golfers finished midfield in both their individual and team competitions at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Golf Championships.

Ice Hockey

The Senior Combined ice hockey team had a great week at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Ice Hockey Championships, winning all their matches to win the South Island crown. The quarter-final against King’s High School was a one-sided affair, won by St Andrew’s 10–2, putting them into the semi-final against Cromwell College, which the team won comfortably 6–1. It was a closer match up in the final against Burnside High School. However, a 3–0 win to St Andrew’s secured the title.