Waitaki lift Foxcroft Trophy from TBHS
The Foxcroft Trophy has a new home after 30 years of hospitality in the Timaru Boys’ High School trophy cabinet.
Waitaki Boys’ High School claimed the trophy for just the 14th time with a 3-1 win over their more fancied opponents.
The two teams began playing for the trophy in 1965, with Waitaki Boys’ last holding it in 1986.
A superb performance from striker Ilmari Jylha is the reason the Oamaru-based side was full of smiles yesterday.
He netted two clinical goals in the final five minutes of the inter-school clash to give Waitaki Boys’ the historic victory.
It was a fairly even encounter early on with Timaru Boys’ slow to get going and Matt Dennis pouncing to put the visitors in front.
Once Timaru Boys’ found their groove they began to dominate the encounter through the middle of the park and up front.
However, Timaru Boys’ seemed to leave their goal scoring boots behind as numerous gilt edged chances were blown by the pupils, something that has been their Achilles heel during the season.
Six shots were pushed to the right of the goal while another couple were well saved by Waitaki Boys’ goalkeeper Thomas Cameron-Duncan.
Boys’ High finally equalised through Harrison Marr but that was as good as it got for the home side, with numerous missed attempts.
After some stern words at halftime from coach Andy Lane, Waitaki Boys’ came out fired up and put the TBHS team under lots of pressure.
Caleb Roberts was outstanding in the middle of the park for Waitaki Boys’, controlling things superbly, while CameronDuncan was busy in goal, making some great decisions, with Dennis and Jylha showing touches of class.
Timaru Boys’ best were Cam Anderson, Matt Rayward and Max Pierce.
The loss ruined Timaru Boys’ chance of going through the inter-school season unbeaten.
Meanwhile, the first round of the South Canterbury Cup was played on Saturday with the favourites claiming wins.
Timaru Boys’ outclassed Timaru City 8-0 with Anderson netting a hat-trick, and West End defeated Timaru City reserves 3-1.
Pleasant Point Elite outscored their clubmates the Pleasant Point reserves 5-0, Meadowbank reserves defeated Temuka by default and Thistle reserves knocked over West End reserves.
This weekend sees Timaru Boys’ High School battle Thistle A, a side they have failed to beat all season and Northern Hearts heading south to face Meadowbank United.
It means one of the big guns will be out of the South Canterbury Cup, while West End face Meadowbank reserves and Point tackle Thistle reserves.