Water Polo

Water Polo Senior Draw - Premier Boys Pool A: February/March 2012

Report from the 2011 Magazine

Seniors

The Premier Team completed the first round of the Auckland championships by winning the minor premiership with an unbeaten run in the preliminary league games. This advanced it to a semi-final against Kristin College, which it won comfortably, to then meet Auckland Grammar in the final. This match was a little disappointing, as the team rested a bit on its laurels and also found itself in foul trouble, allowing Grammar to capture the title at a Diocesan pool packed out with Sacred Heart supporters.

The team was ably led by Captain Darcy Ferigo and Vice Captain Tim Dreadon, until a major injury sidelined Ferigo the week after the North Island championship victory, thus preventing him from taking his part in the Auckland final and the national championships.

The National Championships were again held in Wellington and the Sacred Heart team went there determined to repeat its victory of 2010. It suffered one loss in the preliminary rounds – in the final seconds – to Auckland Grammar, which meant it had to play Rangitoto in the semi-final. This proved to be its most spectacular game of the season, with SHC dominating the Rangitoto attack.The national final, against Westlake, was a tight affair, with either team still in the hunt entering the final quarter. But Westlake managed to open a two-goal break early in that final period and held onto it despite strong attempts by Sacred Heart to peg back the deficit. The final result saw Westlake win the national title with SHC having to settle for the silver medal.

Matthew Lewis, Tim Dreadon and Darcy Ferigo captured many of the individual player awards throughout the three tournaments, with Matthew taking MVP honours at the North Island championships. All three, along with Braeden Drennan, were selected for the NZ Schoolboys side to take on Australia in Sydney in December, but Darcy had to withdraw because of his earlier injury at the start of the year. Matthew, Braeden and Darcy were also selected in the NZ team for the World Junior Men’s U18 Championships, to be held in Perth in December 2012.

Cameron Flavell also earned representative honours this year, playing for the NZ U16 team against Queensland and New South Wales in the Trans-Tasman Challenge Cup in Brisbane. Six of our players were selected for the NZ U15 team that competed in the same tournament. They were Captain Chris Cormack, Denzel Niuelua, Ben Casey, Josh Walden, Conrad Smith and Connor Paterson. Both teams won their respective series against Queensland with the NZ U16 team capturing the overall Trans-Tasman Challenge Cup.

Juniors

Year 7 & 8

In 2011, four Sacred Heart Year 7 & 8 teams have taken to the water in the Eastern League. Team 1 won the Auckland Eastern Zone final and the Cross Zone final between Eastern and Central Zones. Team 1 finished 7th at the North Island Year 7/8 Champs.

Mr Chris Hayward, Teacher in Charge