2018 HNHS School Magazine HNHS Magazine 2018 | Page 73

Hockey 1st XI Boys
Back Row:
2nd Row:
Front Row:
Absent:
Max Buller, Sam Miller, Benjamin Hulena, Kaiyin Hardy, Blake Campbell
Thomas Culham, Jamie Cornes, Hamish Lee, Finlay Keip, Tyler Birkett, Mr G Morrison
Charlie Baker, Harrison Fulford, Jack Foulsham, Eli Shaw Throp, Samuel Wixon
Rogan Ross
Hockey Boys 1st XI
one week and be defender the next. He had a penchant for
being carded. Sam Wixon bookended the season with goals,
but his highlight of the year was overheading a ball over the
dugout. Tyler Birkett and Harrison Fulford were a coach’s
dream, always available, whether for practice or games, and
totally committed to the cause. Harrison wore a stick to the
head for the team to enable them to win the final game. Both
end three years of toil for the team. Blake Campbell had
an outstanding year, owning his inner role, zipping around
like a mosquito on a warm evening. His positional play and
commitment could not be faulted. Hamish Lee didn’t play
as much as previously due to tennis commitments, but he
always brought stability when he played. He was destined
never to score a goal, as at tournament, when set up, duly
finished off only for the umpire say that he had kicked it!
I don’t think he will ever get over it. Then there was Jamie
Cornes - our U18 rep player, drag flicker extraordinaire.
Scorer of two hat tricks in one day. Put more balls in the
swimming pool than any other player ever while practicing
flicking (though Rogan is working on it). Yes, that Jamie.
Finally Eli Shaw-Throp. Captain cruise. The heartbeat of
the side. Master of the sweep. 5 years in the 1st XI is over.
5 years of enjoying those silky skills. You will be missed
despite Brydo, tournament director number one, thinking
you were a bit of a thug. Hey, we were a damn good team,
when we were all there. We ended up winning 10 of 23.
Jamie helped himself to 17 goals. Highlights were wins over
Mahurangi, Orewa, Botany Downs and Takapuna, finishing
7th in the Mayhill Cup. There were narrow losses to Tawa
and Hastings Boys’, which were full of merit. A big thanks
to manager Mrs Helen Reeves who baby sat, umpired, first
aided, cooked, ferried, arbitrated and entertained the team.
For the nine that are leaving, good luck, may you always
remember the time here in the 1st XI, and for those that
remain next year, bring it on!
The hockey boys 1st XI grew during the season to reach their
greatest heights at tournament week. With the loss of eight
players from the year before, all looked a little bleak as the
season began. Without the benefit of preseason games, the
team went into the season cold. Unfortunately, attendance at
practices wasn’t 100%, meaning it took longer to gel than
it should have done. Only twice, leading up to tournament
week, did the team have a full strength team, which meant
the team developed depth as all players were required to
front up. After ‘trials’ and recruiting, the team was named.
Charlie Baker dropped out as he kept breaking bones, so
playing hockey in a plaster cast was difficult. Recruits
came from football and rugby and all were significant parts
of the team. Thomas Culham, Kaiyin Hardy, Ben Hulena
and Finlay Keip contributed huge amounts on the pitch.
Who can forget Finlay’s goal? The roar would have been
heard in Havelock North from Park Island. Ben became the
enforcer at the back, had natural ball skills, and enjoyed
a bit of sledging. Kaiyin was unbelievably good with he
and Thomas having massive engines, at times looking as
if they were auditioning for the Energizer battery ad. The
youngest members of the team, Rogan Ross and Max Buller
were in their second year, with Rogan finishing the season
outstandingly well in defence, while Max played up front,
even scoring a few goals. Not a bad trait for a forward. Both
will be key members of the team next year. Jack Foulsham
had big boots to fill at goalie, and his season had quite a few
ups and downs, but by tournament, his confidence was up,
which made a huge difference to his game. One benefit was
his goalie gear didn’t stink as much as his predecessor’s gear.
Others having their first year were the two Sam’s, Wixon
and Miller. Sam Miller brought hunger, and skill to the team,
and was very versatile - good enough to score a hat trick
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