All White on the Night

This was an awesome performance and probably the best we have played for an entire match. We spoke on Monday and before the game about 7 things we were trying to work on. You did them all for 90% of the game. We also said in the changing room that we had played good hockey for halves of games but we wanted to put a whole game together.

We started off really strongly and shot past the post, forced a save and then Riley turned away to celebrate knocking in a cross before realising the ball had hit the post with the keeper well beaten. Jamie and Ethan got some good linking play going with Ed, Shak and jacob. jamie opened the scoring with a well placed shot from the left hand side of the circle. Riley made it 2-0 bundling the ball into the net from close range and Ethan added a third with a well struck effort.

The defence was working really hard and Jayson and Raj played really well to shut out their forwards and to clear our lines. Bunsi again was immense with some superbly timed tackles. Ethan got yellow carded for ten minutes for a moment of ill discipline. It is never a good idea to retaliate - even if you feel provoked.

At half time we remembered what happened last time we faced Raphael when we gave up a 2 goal lead in the first half of the season. We said that if they scored we would not let our heads go down but would try to hit straight back.

They were awarded a ludicrous penalty corner from a great tackle by Bunsi which they converted well. From the restart Jamie dribbled passed to Ethan who bustled his way forward and restored our three goal cushion 30 seconds after we had lost it. This was probably the key moment in the game. Ethan completed his hat trick with second phase possession from a PC. Jack had been doing some good passes and near the end found Rupert unmarked in their circle. Rupert showed great control, dragged it away from the keeper and tucked it beautifully into the corner. It was a really nicely taken goal and was the icing on the cake for us. Rupert will be starting on Thursday against Scots (in his more usual position). They had a number of attacks but the defence were up to the task and Tom had a great game with good saves in both halves and some fantastic clears.

You all played really well today. It was not just the result but the way you played. It was a great game to watch and the crowd were buzzing at some of your play. Their coach and players both commented on how much they thought you had improved since the last time we played them. It was great to see you stepping up, supporting each other and putting some great play together.

Players of the day were Finn who worked really hard, kept Denzel out of the game and made some incisive passes and Jamie who did a lot of work off the ball and did some clever linking. Having said that you were all stars today! I also want to make special mention of Rupert's exemplary attitude on the bench and his goal was the least he deserved today.

To come out and dominate against a team that finished second in the grading round with the biggest margin of victory in the league so far was immense. It has also helped our goal difference and more or less assured us of a place in the semi finals.
Well done team - your coaches, manager and parents are proud of you!

Match Result: Wellington College Under 15A: 6 - Raphael House 1st XI: 1

How we lost

We turned up to the usual Elsdon weather of choose any 2 from freezing temperatures, howling wind and pouring rain. We were up for the game and played really well in the first half. We got some good patterns working and Ed scored a sensational goal bursting through the inside right channel to blast a sweet strike with very little back lift.

We kept up the pressure and had a few chances but could not get a second goal. They scored an excellent breakaway goal to equalise shortly before half time. At half time we spoke about the importance of marking and movement and of keeping up the intensity.

We did not play as well in the second half and gave the ball away time and time again. Our marking got sloppy and our passing became inaccurate. Rayhan made some good clearances but we failed to stick to our pattern of play. We almost scored with two minutes to play but the ball broke to our end and we failed to clear the danger on the right side of our circle and the ball rolled across for an easy winner for them in the last second of the game.

It was frustrating that they scored after the final whistle should have gone and there were a number of strange umpiring decisions but that was not what lost us the game. We did not work hard enough, our basic skills let us down and we made too many unforced errors.

We need to work harder to support each other and to pass and move like we did in the first half if we are to avoid throwing the season away.

Match Result: Wellington College Under 15A 1 - Aotea 1st XI 2

The Finn and Ethan Show

Sunday morning we played the Wellington Under 13 Development Team. It was a good opportunity for us to get our passing game going and really show the up and coming stars what fast, attacking, passing hockey looks like.

We somewhat missed this opportunity and instead resorted to demonstrating the deficiencies of dribbling (eventually someone tackles you).

I was pleased with the defensive efforts of the Development Team and Tom reacted well to stop a couple of breakaways that could easily have conceded a goal.

We won the first third 2-0, the second 1-0 and the third (when we finally started passing a bit) 3-0.

Ethan scored 4 well taken goals (two of which should have been passes in a P3 game) and Shak knocked in the goal of the game.

Finn scored his first goal since he was about 7 years old with a cross that was so off target it tracked in at an impossible angle. Finn's other highlights included maiming a number of the Under 13s and an over head that would just about have cleared the opposition right wings head but would have struck even Shak on the chest or lower.

Rupert marking the wing in question had to be careful that he did not nip between his legs.

This was a good fun game and good to have some more turf time as a team.

Players of the day were Finn and Ethan - for being Finn and Ethan.

Thanks to Bruce for organising the team and yes I know the Umpires were a little sympathetic to the smaller boys (but they may just have been compensating for Finn) and yes I know there should have been a penalty (although based on our performance in the post match penalty shoot out competition it was perhaps as well that we did not)

Thanks for playing the game in a good spirit. I think the people watching enjoyed the game and it was a good learning experience for the Wellington team. I am sure it brought back memories for a few of you of playing Under 13 Rep.

Match Result: Wellington Under 13 Development 0 - Wellington College Under 15A 6

A good match.

Our fourth last game against Onslow was a story of valiant defending and missed opportunities. I was really pleased with the way the defence played. We marked well and closed them down when they broke forward. Finn and Bunsi played really well and Raj, Jayson and Rupert all tackled well. Tom made a number of excellent saves.

The missed opportunities were in the midfield and forwards. We took too long to get the ball moving and made too many poor decisions when we got close to their circle. They played well and closed us down quickly but we needed faster more accurate passing.

The first half we conceded three penalty corners and they scored from two of them. We were not alert to the switch of direction and stood off the shot. Finn almost stopped it on the line but it was a soft goal. The second PC was well struck. We hardly had a shot in the first half and went in 2-0 down at half time.

In the second half we played much better. Shak had a great chance which just shaved the post and Jamie put Ethan through where a slipped pass to the far post had players queuing up to score but the opportunity was wasted. We continued to defend well and Bunsi's diving clearance off the line showed the kind of commitment that turns a game.

They went in for a bit of sledging, appealing to the umpire and general back chat which we did well not to respond to. The most hilarious comment from one of their players was "If we play like this we could beat Wellington College 1st XI"

Players of the day were Jacob for some good passing and commitment and to Bunsi for a great all round performance.

Match Result: Onlsow 1st XI 2 - Wellington College Under 15A 0

So that is one game each between us and Onslow and we may meet them again in the play offs.

We are now entering the business end of the season. We have three games left and need to win two of them to secure a place in the semi finals. We need to improve every game from here on in.

Points but no prizes

This looked a bit like a team playing it's 6th game in 8 days. We were pretty surprised at the Rongotai starting line up and in the end that was what was going to get us the points. They apologised the next day for fielding an ineligible player and we accept their explanation that an honest mistake was made.

We only really came to life towards the end and Ethan knocked in the equalizer. We pressed for the winner and made several chances but left ourselves a bit exposed at the back.

We have awarded the goals to Ethan, Jayson and Rupert ( 1/2 a goal each) and Tom and Raj (1/2 a goal each).

Match Result - Wellington College U15A 3 - Rongotai 2nd XI 0

Now we approach the business end of the season and need to up our game for the next 4 games including 2 teams who beat us in the grading round and one that we drew with.