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In a tournament that came down to a single point, Bream Bay College took the Lower North Hockey Tournament trophy from Mahurangi in an upset win this month.
Mahurangi was the favourite to win, having merged its top boys’ and girls’ players into a mixed team for the first time for the tournament.
It started the event strongly, trouncing Rodney College 9-0.
Meanwhile, Bream Bay just managed to scrape a 1-0 win against underdogs Otamatea High School.
But Bream Bay performed when it counted, with a 4-3 victory over Mahurangi to secure the trophy. The win ensured Bream Bay remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Nevertheless, Mahurangi finished the tournament on a high, beating Otamatea 7-0.
Rodney College also won its match against Otamatea, 2-1.
Bream Bay has increasingly challenged Mahurangi’s dominance at the annual tournament, also winning the tournament trophy in 2019.
Bream Bay coach Bruce Paton said things were looking good for the secondary schools’ tournament next month, despite his team having lost six senior players.
Mahurangi coach Cory Argyle is also feeling confident for tournament week, despite the stumble in the Lower North competition.
This year, both the Mahurangi boys and girls hockey teams will travel to Waikato.
The Lower North Hockey Tournament has been contested between Otamatea High School, Bream Bay College, Rodney College and Mahurangi College since 1983.
The tournament shield was lost in 1992 but found in 2019. It was put back into circulation along with its replacement trophy.
