Making final superb effort by Cromwell

Cromwell College players Ryan Jones (No 14) and William Edwards celebrate Jones’ goal against Shirley Boys’ High School during the final of the South Island Championship in Dunedin yesterday.

The Central Otago school reached yesterday’s final of the South Island Championship Boys tournament staged in Dunedin this week.

That was no small feat given the challenges the school faced just getting a team together.

Shirley Boys’ High School clinched a convincing 6-1 win in the final. Cromwell had some opportunities and Ryan Jones slapped in a second-half goal. His side looked at its most threatening in broken play.

While it was a disappointing finish to the campaign, coach Sam Pimm was thrilled with his side’s effort.

"I’m pretty proud of them considering the team was put together pretty late with injuries and everything," Pimm said.

King’s High School celebrates winning the South Island Premiership Boys tournament in Christchurch — (back row, from left) Dave Ross, Patrick Ward, Jacob Smith, Sammy Johnson, Ocean Alleman, Ben Sowman, Henry King, Hugh Askerud, Chris MacDonald, Adam Greenfield, Zeke Buschl and Harry Mason (front row) James Nicolson, Jack Aubin, Kjell Daufenbach, Joe French and Zac Diehl. PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSH/SUPPLIED

"And it has been 10 years since Cromwell has had a boys team. So I’m very proud of how they have gone and they could keep their heads held high."

Cromwell did not quite have the numbers it needed, but Mt Aspiring College answered an SOS.

It dispatched three players, including Campbell Mortimer, who is an ace drag-flicker.

The 17-year-old scored 11 goals during the tournament, 10 of them from penalty corners.

Cromwell College player Lauri Kramar tries to control the ball while under pressure from Josh Cooper, of Shirley Boys’.

St Hilda’s Collegiate 2nd XI beat St Kevin’s College 4-2 in yesterday’s final of South Island Championship Girls tournament which was also staged in Dunedin.

Billie Crowe scored three goals to help clinch the win.

In Christchurch, King’s High School beat Christchurch Boys’ High School 2-1 in the final of the South Island Premiership Boys tournament.

James Nicolson scored his second goal of the game in the final two minutes to seal the win.

Last year, King's completed an historic victory in the Rankin Cup and will get to keep the trophy until next year, as the tournament was not played this year because of Covid-19.