Hockey boys do us proud

7/9/2008

The Otago Boys’ 1st hockey XI has fallen just short of what would have been a stunning achievement.

Keen contest . . . Otago Boys' player Gabe Ritchie looks for a way around Cory Bennett, of Westlake Boys, during the final of the Rankin Cup in Napier on Friday. Westlake Boys won 3-2.

The school was beaten 3-2 by Auckland’s Westlake Boys in the final of the Rankin Cup in Napier on Friday.

The team has been coached by Jenny Dunbar for the last two years and with Jenny having coached the 2nd XI and the Colts team prior to that, many of this year's selection have progressed under her tutelege through their time at Otago Boys'.

While the team stumbled at the last hurdle it can be extremely pleased with its effort. This time last year the school was celebrating winning the India Shield and gaining promotion to the country’s premier tournament – the top six – for school boys.

To move from the top of a second tier competition and almost win the ultimate prize represents a remarkable improvement, assistant coach Mark Joyce said.

Out of the 16-strong squad, 11 will have an opportunity to return next year, although the team will be without junior Black Sticks' representatives Blair Tarrant, Hugo Inglis and Nick Ross.

Westlake seized the initiative by scoring two goals within the opening seven minutes. Stunned, Otago Boys' clawed a goal back when Ross deflected a penalty corner past the keeper.

Westlake seemed to have sealed the victory when it scored a third goal with 15 minutes remaining. But Otago Boys' mounted a late run ... Kane Russell grabbed a goal as the Southerners surged forward, and Tarrant had an opportunity to send the game into extra time but pushed a penalty stroke wide in the dying moments of the match.