Winning start for basketball teams
The first game for the Katikati College senior A girls was a 32-18 win against Bethlehem College Junior A team, played at Tauranga’s QE Youth Centre.
The team played hard from start to finish, having only one player on the bench. Player of the day went to the team’s youngest player, Year 9 student Malinga Tonga, who had the most rebounds throughout the game.
The boys’ senior A basketball team opened their season with a 44-17 win over TKK last Wednesday night in Tauranga. The boys were happy to be back on the court and it showed. It was a strong physical performance, backed up with good passing. The players were aggressive in defence, but this showed in too many fouls against them, and this is one area they need to work on. The top three scorers were Sositeni Tautuaa (12), Dandre du Plessis (12) and Siedrick Gonzales (8).
Hockey
The 1st XI hockey girls played Tauranga Girls College 2nds in their first foray. Another new combination including Eva Freeman stepping up in goal and having a great match. Both teams started strongly but KKC was quicker to the ball on most occasions and great at taking quick penalties and forcing TGC onto the back foot. The first goal came when Meghann Fraser playing at right half drove towards the circle and fired in a crash ball that Year 9 player Destinee Benge finished off, scoring the first goal on her debut. Aylish Dunlop was her usual busy self at right-mid, chasing everything and picking up lots of loose ball to drive forward with. Phoebe Soulsby was strong and calm at the back, easily dealing with any ball coming her way.
The next two goals came from penalty corners with a straight shot from Katie Templeton and then another from a Sydnee Shanley deflection. TGC got one back but two awesome field goals from Dunlop and Fraser finished them off 5-1. Player of the Day went to Destinee Benge.
The 1st XI boys’ hockey team played Mount Maunganui 1st XI in the first game of the season. A fresh new team with six new players, it was always going to be a challenging start. The team also had the bare 11 for the game, so fitness was pushed, but they all got an opportunity to establish themselves. MMC started very strongly and scored twice in the first half. KKC held their own and played constructively with excellent passing but were unable to counter. Griffin Fraser in goal was kept busy dealing with some stunning shots from the MMC representative players. Changes were made in the second half which took some getting used to, but Beau Moka picked up an intercept and finished off a great solo goal. MMC scored two more to make it 1-5, but this was not reflective of the commitment and effort from KKC.
Best overall player was awarded to Alex Montford. Also good was newbie Curtis Moore.
Rugby
KKC 1st XV had a friendly pre-season hit out on Saturday playing two minigames against Mount Maunganui College 1st XV and Otumoetai College 1st XV. They beat the MMC 39-0 and Oats 15-7, both games played in great spirits with lots of fun had in the rain. Player of the Day was Zac Arundel.
This Saturday is another festival day of rugby at Moore Park.