Tournament 2009

The 2009 Tournament was a very special one for St Thomas as the team had qualified for the Premier New Zealand School Boy's Tournament in Nelson. The tournament was the best 32 school boy teams from around the country, with the tournament divided up into three sections: Top 8, middle 16 and the bottom 8. Our boys beat Cashmere High School 3-1, Timaru 3-1 Boys High x - x, Christ's College 3-1 and St Bedes 5-1 to qualify.

The team had three trainings a week and six games leading into the trip and training for the year started back in February. Mr Strachan, Mr Barclay and Mr McCarthy must be thanked for their hard work leading into the trip. The team traveled up a few days earlier to prepare and enjoy Nelson's sunny weather. This was not to be as heavy rain affected training and ruined several grounds.

Day one saw the boys play Hutt Valley International in which they lost 4-0 which was not a reflection of the game as Hutt managed to score 3 goals in the space of 15 minutes to sink any chance of a come back. The lads did not take their opportunities and that's what these tournaments are all about. Lewis Allan was superb in goal saving several sure goals and did his best to keep the team alive.

In the afternoon we played Kings College from Auckland which boasted four New Zealand age group players. The team found themselves down 2-nil early on but dug deep and a superb team goal finished by Misi and a screamer from 35 yards from captain Jacob Allen gave St Thomas heart and they really lifted. The second half was a great game which was eventually decided by a terrible linesman decision for offside and the boys lost 3-2 which cost them a chance of the middle 16. Hutt and Kings went on to finish 10 and 11.

Day 2 was a day of redemption, hard work and pride for the boys. On another rainy day the boys beat Wakatipu 2-0. Goals went to super-sub Jonny Lester and Mena Malik who during the game managed to snap the corner flag in half through a slide for the ball. The team had to go back in the afternoon to attend a penalty shoot out to see who finished 3^rd in the pool. Lewis Allen was outstanding and saved two penalties to win us the shoot out.

Day 3 the team played Marlborough Boys College which was the best half of football the team had played all year and scored three superb team goals with Misi Salave bagging a double and  own goal from a period of intense football. The team created several other chances hitting the post several times. The team eventually won 3-1 and finally had started to play to their potential. The team went for a pool session for the afternoon to help their sore body's recover. However the boys felt a full contact game of pool rugby was in order.

Day 4 the team played Rongotai College in the semi final of the plate and soon found themselves 3 nil down at half time. The team had 40 minutes to turn around a forgettable half. The second half was like a Disney movie with the team not giving in and digging deep playing for each other and soon through a great set piece and finish to Brandon Wither the team again had belief.  Big Clifford (Brandon) five minutes after his first bounced like a cat on a lose ball and buried it 3-2 down with 10 minutes left. Misi Salave then completed the come back and they went to penalties. The team won the penalty shoot out 5-4 with Brandon Wither completing his hat trick, Matt Van der clay, Jacob Allen, Mena Malik and Geoff Wright all converting their stop kicks. 

The final saw St Thomas play Wakatipu for the second time. Again a slow start and the boys had to fight back from 2 nil down.  St Thomas dominated the whole game with Wakatipu stacking their defence and making it very hard to convert chances.  Misi Salave scored an excellent goal from a set piece and then Geoff Wright calmly slotted home the equalizer mid way through the second half.  The team created several chances all the way up to the final whistle. This meant penalties for the 3^rd time in the tournament. This time there were no heroics and we lost the final of the bowl 6-5. The team went away to rue the missed chances.

To make the tournament in the first place was huge accomplishment and to miss the middle section by two goals on count back was heart breaking. This showed how close all teams were and how hard the pool was. Hopefully the boys can take away many good memories and life skills like cooking, budgeting, cleaning and competing with the best in the country. Thanks to all the parents who came up to support the team and Mr Biggs for brilliant photography and a huge thanks to Mr Smith for the drink bottles, having the fluids prepared for the boys, rub downs and strapping.

In a tournament like this you can not afford to go to sleep for five minutes as there are no second chances. It will be a few years until another team from St Thomas makes this prestigious tournament and the boys need to hold their heads up high and know that they have created some history attending and competing with the best.

Article by Richard Washington

Midweek Competition

Three words describe this season, undefeated, history and brotherhood.

The First X1 of 2009 created history by winning the Westpac Trust Cup for the first time in its 20 year history. This was one of the team's three goals for the season.

1. Qualify for the Premier school boy Tournament in Nelson
2. Win the Wednesday league
3. Win the two interschool's, tick, tick and tick.

This year was also the last for several senior players who had given an outstanding service to St Thomas of Canterbury Football. Captain, Jacob Allen, Vice Captain Matt Van der clay, Geoff Wright and Brandon Wither. I thank these boys for their hard work and dedication to the Beautiful Game.

The team had twelve year 13s and four younger boys so it had the potential to be the best team ever at St Thomas. The boys had a real focus and real feel of brotherhood which helped produce the results on the field and ability to "step up" when required. Pre-season trainings and team bonding sessions allowed this team to become very close. A new field and posts and a visit from Ben Sigmund who is a current All white and Wellington Phoenix player set the scene for the beginning of the season. Ben constantly kept college old boy and fellow All white and Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen in the loop of his old college's success's. Thanks Ben.

Our first real game of the season was against Middleton Grange who the team would eventually play in the final. We won the game 2-1. This was a huge step for the team who had never tasted success over Middleton for the past few seasons. The team then went on to beat Cashmere High 3-1, Hillmorton 4-1, Rangiora 1-0, Riccarton 5-1, Because of qualifying for the National Tournament the team did not play several teams. At the end of the season the team still qualified second-even and played Hilmorton in the semi winning this 2-1 in a hard fought game.

The two interschool's St Thomas dominated. St Kevin's lost to STC 14-0. The team was up 10 nil at half time and then cruised in the second. The second interschool competition saw the team travel to Timaru to play Roncalli College. It was decided that the team rest several players because of a qualifying game. The end score was 3-1 to St Thomas but this score did not indicate the utter domination from St Thomas.

The final was played against Middleton Grange the week before tournament so this was perfect preparation for tournament and there was huge motivation to head away full of confidence. The game was very close with both teams having chances. After 20 minutes St Thomas asserted their dominance and pushed hard for a goal. The score at half time was 0-0. It took some individual brilliance from Brandon Wither with a long range effort to break the dead lock. This remained the only goal of the match and St Thomas had won the Westpac Trust Cup.

Next year the team will be in a rebuilding stage. The team of 2009 is the best team I have had the experience of taking with several players able to change a game in an instant. Their skill level, knowledge of the game and hard work was outstanding.

I thank the whole team and their parents for their help this season and I wish the departing players all the best for their future and hope they continue playing and don't forget their time playing for St Thomas.

By Richard Washington