Schools: Performances across disciplines impress

A skilful Otago Girls High School team outplayed all opposition to claim the under-19 title at the national futsal championships in Queenstown.

Briony Barclay, who was captain of the New Zealand Schools team in Brisbane in the October holidays, led her team by example and was ably supported by talented younger players Sam Muirhead, Daytona Helm and Grace Van Turnhout.

Defender Morgan Dalzel and goalie Alyssa Gray added to the classy side, which beat Burnside 4-1 in the final.

Briony has been selected for the Australasian Under-19 side to tour China early next year.

The win in the final was dedicated to football player and school friend Sam Hall, who died of cancer earlier in the year.

Otago Boys High School's under-14 team also won a national title in Queenstown.

Cam Howieson was outstanding throughout the tournament, cleaning up at the back and initiating many drives forward. He also led the scoring (14 goals). Cam was well complemented by Joel Stevens, who collected a number of goals and produced many turnovers with a tremendous work rate.

Lian Lam Sam grew throughout the competition and ended equal with Cam as leading goal-scorer on 14 goals. A big target, he was a headache for opposition defence.

Ryan McGarry was solid at the back and was supported by two able keepers (Tom Stevens and Tyrrell Barringer-Tairi) while Sam Brouwer played well off the bench, and was effective at the back.

Logan Park High School entered four teams in the tournament, with the talented under-19 boys unlucky not to get to the final.

They won their quarterfinal in an exciting game against an impressive St Bedes, 2-1, but because they lost an earlier game against Linwood College by one goal (when they had a flat morning game), they were not able to progress. Linwood went on to win the title and LPHS boys were third.

In the senior boys team, Logan Park had the following players: Seamus Gray, Konyo Yoon, Michael Still (all South Island or NZ Youth representatives), Amos Rouse, Adam Harris, Tom Kenny, Moyad Barnawi and Billy Pullar. David Rucker had been their coach.

The Logan Park intermediate under-16 team improved rapidly, beating Christchurch Boys 4-0 and reaching the quarterfinals.

Cricket

Kylie Crowley, a very promising cricketer, has been selected for the Kavanagh College boys First XI. This is an excellent achievement at this level.

Kylie is a current member of the Otago Sparks team and has been a member of most Otago age group teams. She played her first game last Saturday and helped the team to a good total of 227 and was impressive in the field.

Kings students excel

Kings High School has recently seen four of its pupils attain the lofty heights of the upper echelons of secondary school sport.

Josh Lamb, a year 11 student, won the under-45kg title at the national taekwondo championships in Auckland, while yachtsmen Daniel Meehan and Robere Hall have been selected to go to the Sydney International Regatta in early December to compete in the 29ers skiff class.

Chris Stevens received Squash Otago's trophy for the most improved male player by moving from a D2 grade to a C1. This progress is quite rare within one season.