Palmerston North break 15-year drought

Palmerston North Boys' High School's first XI footballers have broken a 15-year drought and defied their seventh seeding to win the premier national tournament in Napier.

Centre midfielder Dale Higham scored an extra-time goal to give Boys' High a 3-2 win over Nelson's Nayland College after the scores were locked 2-2 at 90 minutes.

Boys' High had to battle back from 1-0 down at half time and got on the score sheet in the second spell through striker Ed Gleeson and defender Regan Dewar.

The school last won the national tournament in 1995 when they claimed back-to-back titles and came off a third-place effort last year.

Boys' High had to play seven games during the week and manager Ross Stevenson said the workload took its toll on the side.

"They certainly didn't leave much on the field when they came off," he said.

"Your whole squad really has to perform. You can't really afford to have too many weak links."

Izaia Burston was named player of the final, while Robbie Yule had to play in goal for the match because regular keeper Jono Bright was red-carded in the 4-2 semifinal win over Auckland's Sacred Heart College and was suspended.

Yule hadn't played in goal for two seasons, before yesterday's final.

Boys' High's first XI hockey side finished second at the top-tier Rankin Cup tournament after they lost 1-0 to Christchurch Boys' High School in the final.

Boys' High coach Bruce Kensington said it was frustrating to go down after beating Christchurch 5-2 in pool play.

"We had some chances and it was just unlucky."

Striker Mark Lovelock, centre half Edmund Cousins, goalkeeper Ben Smith and right inside Thomas Kensington were the standouts for the team during the week.

Palmerston North Girls' High School's first XI hockey team won the Marie Fry Trophy on their home turf with a 2-1 win over Hillcrest High School and will now play in the top-tier tournament next year.

Their first XI football team finished 26 of 32 at the premier tournament in Nelson after they lost 3-0 to Wellington Girls' College. Freyberg High School's girls first XI hockey team won the Eveline Hankers Memorial tournament in Ngatea with a 1-0 win over Baradene College in the final yesterday and Freyberg's Michaela Greenwood was named player of the final. Their boys team finished 10th at the Olympic Stick tournament in Whakatane after they lost 4-0 to Aotea College.

Freyberg's girls basketball team qualified for this month's national championships to be held in Palmerston North after they finished third at their qualifying tournament in New Plymouth.

Their female first XI football team finished 12th at the premier tournament after they lost 4-2 to Tawa College yesterday.

Feilding High School finished fourth at the Founders Cup hockey tournament in Carterton, after they lost 2-1 to Whakatane High School, while Tararua College finished eighth after they were beaten 4-0 by Waiuku College.

Feilding High School's boys 1st XV will play off for third at the national finals of the co-ed knockout cup in Rotorua after they lost 17-15 to Manurewa College yesterday.

- © Fairfax NZ News