Winter Tournament Week 2024

After a demanding winter season in their local competitions, St Andrew’s College sports teams took on the best opposition from across the South Island and Aotearoa New Zealand during an intense Winter Tournament Week.

The girls’ teams once again led the results, with the standout being the Girls’ 1st XI football team’s stunning third place in the National Premier Tournament – St Andrew’s best ever result for girls’ football; and both the Senior Girls’ and Junior Girls’ basketball teams claiming well-deserved South Island titles.

All the St Andrew’s teams represented the College with pride and respect for their opposition, with a huge team effort from coaches, managers, teachers, and parent supporters helping make the week such a success.

Football

After securing a fourth Canterbury Premier Championship, the Girls’ 1st XI football team carried their great form into the New Zealand Premier Girls’ Football Tournament. They were dominant during pool play, with four wins and a draw, then lost a close semi-final 0–1 to Baradene College, which saw them take on Epsom Girls’ High School in the play-off for third and fourth. This nail-biting match went to a shootout, with the St Andrew’s team holding their nerve to clinch victory 5–4 and the bronze medal, which was an outstanding result.

The 1st XI Boys also competed at the national tournament, finishing in 21st place in the Malcolm Cowie Tournament.

Basketball

It was another great Winter Tournament Week for St Andrew’s basketball, with both the Senior Girls’ and Junior Girls’ teams winning South Island titles, and the Senior Boys’ team making the semi-finals to finish in an impressive fourth place. Both Senior teams qualified to compete at the national tournament.

After winning their fifth consecutive Canterbury Whelan Trophy crown, the Senior Girls’ basketball team carried on their dominant form with an unbeaten display throughout the South Island Secondary Schools’ Tournament. Their biggest challenges came in the semi-final against Columba College, which they won 67–54, setting up a tense final against Kaiapoi High School. This game went to the wire, before St Andrew’s prevailed 67–65.

The Junior Girls were also dominant, winning every match comfortably on their way to their South Island title, including a 90–50 victory over Ashburton College in the final.

The Senior Boys had five wins and a loss in pool play on their way to the playoff for third and fourth, which they lost to Rangiora High School 60–83. The Junior Boys finished seventh in their Zone 4 competition.

Netball

The Senior A netball team was also in great form during Tournament Week, with six comprehensive wins in pool play before facing Columba College in the semi-final. It was another nail-biting match, with the girls just missing out on a place in the final after losing by one goal 36–37. The team faced Christchurch Girls’ High School in the playoff for third and fourth, losing that match 28–37 to claim fourth place in the South Island, a great effort which saw them qualify for the national tournament.

Hockey

The 1st XI Boys’ and Girls’ teams both travelled to their respective national tournaments and delivered some great performances during the week to finish within the top 20 nationally.

In pool play, the girls won three and lost two matches, which put them just outside the top 16 teams. Their 2–0 victories over both King’s College in their semi-final playoff, and Rangitoto College in the final, saw them claim the Marie Fry Trophy for 17th place in New Zealand.

The 1st XI Boys won three, lost one, and drew one match on their way to the playoffs, where they ended up in shootouts in both their semi-final and final matches. A 2–4 loss to Whangarei Boys’ High School in the final saw them finish second in the India Shield, and 18th overall in New Zealand.

Round up of other sports

St Andrew’s was also well represented during Winter Tournament Week by our rugby, equestrian, ice hockey, and badminton teams.

The 1st XV rugby team took part in the Independent Schools’ Rugby Festival, where there were no placings. The U15 team finished eighth at the South Island Secondary Schools’ U15 Tournament, with the U16 team third in their quadrangular tournament, and the 1st XV Girls’ rugby team winning the plate final at their Secondary Schools’ 10’s Tournament.

The equestrian team started strongly at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Equestrian Championships, placing third overall in the Competitive Trail Riding on day one. Once the scores from arena eventing, dressage, and show jumping were tallied the team finished fourth overall in the South Island. This was a great result for the riders, many of whom had top five placings in their classes.

Following two wins, three losses, and a draw, the Senior A ice hockey team finished fourth at their South Island Secondary Schools’ competition.

The Senior A Girls’ badminton team competed at the Canterbury Secondary Schools’ Championships, with Fanxi (Elsa) Meng (Year 9) runner-up in the Junior Premier Singles, and winner of the Junior Girls’ Doubles with Kristina Burton (Year 10). In the Senior competition, Manzhao (Cherry) Xu (Year 12) won the Girls’ Plate Singles, and Yutian (Tianna) Chen (Year 9) and RuoLin (Lauren) Li (Year 10) were runners-up in the Girls’ Doubles.