Our Diocesan School Premier Sports Teams competed at various venues around the country for the annual College Sport Winter Tournament Week from Monday 27 August, until Saturday 2 September. Below is a wrap-up of how they all got on:
Football 1st XI:
The team made history by finishing 5th in the NZSS Lotto Premier tournament in Taupo, the highest ever ranking for Diocesan. The girls competed against 32 other schools from across New Zealand showing remarkable skill, teamwork, and resilience throughout the tournament, winning five out of seven games and scoring 24 goals in total.
A highlight was the match against defending champions Epsom Girls’ Grammar School (EGGS). A thrilling and tense 60 minute match saw both teams scoring one goal in regular time. The game went to a penalty shoot-out with goalie Lucy Nevill making two amazing saves and securing the team a place in the top eight.
Anya Stephan was awarded Most Valuable Player of the tournament. She worked tirelessly in every game, in multiple positions and showed great teamwork. Special mention also to Arya Blackler the top goal scorer, with two hat tricks over the week.
Special thanks to coach Ashleigh Taylor and Assistant Coach and Manager Kit Bushell for all their support and dedication throughout the season.
Team: Kate Beagley, Arya Blackler, Bella Cranefield Olivia Erskine, Sophia Haines, Gemma Kelly, Indigo Kirk, Sienna Kirk, Hannah McManus, Lucy Nevill, Rita Price, Sydney Sparks, Anya Stephan, Gracie Thomas, Maddison Tongue and Holly Webster.
Lacrosse:
The Premier Lacrosse Team attended the three day New Zealand Secondary Schools Lacrosse Tournament at Cornwall Park from Friday 1 September.
The girls had some tough pool games against Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS), St Peter’s Cambridge and Te Awamutu on Friday and Saturday morning, but their spirits remained high and they came out fighting against Matamata on Saturday afternoon. They were drawn 2-2 at quarter time, going down 4-9 at full time. Their final game was against Morrinsville on Sunday morning, with a full-time score of 5-12 to Morrinsville.
The girls had a positive, never-give-up attitude throughout the tournament, showing great sportmanship and team spirit. Thank you to Mikayla O’Brien and Jo Herrod for coaching and managing the team over the three days.
Team: Alex Brewer, Saskia Collins, Izzy Coney, Jamie Cottrell, Anna Green, Aimee Herrod, Stephanie Holden, Ellie McDonald, Olivia McDonald, Ella Millar, Makya Muriwai, Alyssa Richardson, Lilly Twort, Lucia Walden-Green and Sophie Yiasoumi.
Hockey – 1st and 2nd XI:
On Sunday 27 August, both 1st and 2nd XI set off for Christchurch together and spent their respective weeks in Ashburton and Christchurch.
The 2nd XI Hockey team started strong with a 2-0 victory over St Andrews College and finished 2nd in their pool. The girls went on to tie the next three games against St Cuthbert’s College, Whangarei Girls High School and Villa Maria College and gained a ton of experience going to shoot outs in all three games. The girls triumphantly came away on top against a strong Villa Maria in their final shoot-out to finish 7th overall. Huge shoutout to coaches Hitu Patel, Vic Stratton and manager Alex Woodall for their dedication in taking this very young 2nd XI side and getting them to play fast, dynamic, quick passing hockey. Thank you, captain Labella Annett – your positive leadership was pivotal in creating such a great team culture.
The 1st XI had many proud performances during their week away. A 5-0 win against Samuel Marsden, a 7-0 win over Bethlehem College, two shoot-out wins against Kristen College and Fielding and one of the most hard-fought losses against a strong Westlake College (winners of the Auckland competition). Of the 19 goals scored, 15 were from penalty corners and from 9 different goal scorers, demonstrating the team-style hockey they are playing. Results aside, the most impressive thing about the girls was their exceptional sportsmanship and team culture. The on and off-field growth of this team was massive and in large part, a testament to their outstanding leaders Felicity Bannatyne and Brooke Chandler. Fairwell to Felicity, Brooke, Lucy Blanchard and Nikitia Parag and thank you all your work and for being such great role models in the Dio Hockey program.
1st XI Team: Felicity Bannatyne, Liv Barker, Lucy Blanchard, Olivia Carpenter, Brooke Chandler, Alexandra Fletcher, Anais Hamilton, Evie Houtman, Casey Lam, Nikita Parag, Sara Revell, Indigo Riley, Amy Shennan, Sophie Tierney, Poppy Tingey and Kate Wyber.
2ND XI Tournament Team: Team: Labella Annett, Katie Astwick, Isla Barker, Sydney Bell, Laura Bowden, Chloe Driscoll, Susie Finlayson, Harriet Fletcher, Lucy Gibson, Imogen Harper, Sophia Head, Hollie Lawson, Tessa Lepionka, Sophie Pearce, Alexis Tree and Catarina Young.
Basketball:
Basketball played in the Northern Regional Cup over tournament week at Trusts Arena in Henderson, Auckland. The team learnt what it takes to be competitive at a higher level and placed 8th overall.
Team List: Frankie Ashford, Sophia Baranyai, Sammie Barclay, Samantha Ford, Addison Hewlitt, Caroline Kennar, Ava Leach, Latai Opeti-Finau, Maggie Reynolds, Honor Small and Violet Tucker.
Netball:
Netball attended UNISS (Upper North Island Secondary Schools) in Hamilton for Winter Tournament Week where they played in the A Grade competition after finishing Runner-Up in the B Grade in 2022. They finished 30th Place in A Grade overall with some close matches and a draw against St Cuthbert’s College earlier in the week.
Team: Este Ngatai, Aniela Farac, Jade Miller, Vita Yarrell-Stevenson, Chloe Luo, Meg McKinnon, Boh Curran, Frances Revell-Devlin, Frances Hunt, Sophie Jamison and Olivia Smithies.
Equestrian:
Our girls represented Diocesan at the North Island Equestrian Championships from Tuesday 29th to Thursday 31st August at the National Equestrian Centre. Ella Wong and Dakota Tohi had an educational Show Hunter Rounds today. Ella Wong had a fantastic showjumping round going double clear. She was only just outside the ‘Top 10’ for overall 60-70cm showjumping with 40 in it! Hattie Giltrap rode two incredible rounds one show hunter and one show jumping, clear in both. Hattie was just outside the top 10 for overall 80-90 showjumping with 40 in it too! Coco Fougere 2nd overall for best performed Year 9 and 10. Coco Fougere rode a super Show Jumping round and had a lovely clear in the Show Hunter where she came 6th. Victoria Boot was 2nd in the overall 70-80 horse show jumping and 5th overall for the best performed Year 11-13. Victoria Boot was amazing with the younger girls. A big inspiration for our younger girls.
Well done, Ella Wong, Dakota Tohi, Hattie Giltrap, Coco Fougere and Victoria Boot.
Cycling:
The Dio Cycling Club continued their strong form at the Northern Tour Hill Climb and Criterium events held in Auckland at the end of tournament week.
In the U14 event Alice Wellington picked up the third in the hill climb and Maddie Worrall the silver in the U15 category. Molly Sherrard also made the podium winning bronze in the In the U17 age grade, Mika James picked up the U14 bronze, Maddie Worrall added another silver in the U15 and Lily James came really close to the podium in 4th in the U16. These results meant that Maddie placed silver overall in the U15 and Mika bronze in the U14. Alice Wellington was super close to the podium with a 4th place finish overall. Adding to her Northern Tour successes Molly also picked up silver in the Auckland ITT. Well done to everyone who competed – we look forward to following your results at Nationals next week!
Team: Alice Berry, Lulu Cameron, Grace Currie, Rose Finlayson, Jess Finnegan, Lucy Forman, Pippa Forman, Lily James, Mika James, Annabelle Judd, Molly Sherrard, Alice Wellington, Indie Williams, Maddie Worrall, Chloe Xiao, JiaJia Yang and Stephanie Yuan.
Underwater Hockey:
Dio had two Underwater Hockey teams competing at the 37th National Secondary Schools Underwater Hockey Tournament held at West Wave Aquatic Centre in Henderson Auckland. The three day competition saw Dio competing against some great competition with the Junior Girls placing 5th overall and our Seniors 8th. Molly Hopwood-Craig and Olivia Tongue were both named in the Junior Tournament team while Mila Hopwood-Craig was named in the Senior Tournament Team. Congratulations to all three girls on their achievement and national recognition.
Junior Team List: Sarah Bunbury, Lyla-May Cockle, Ines Cullinane, Sophia Grayson, Stella Grayson, Michaela Harding, Molly Hopwood-Craig, Eve Lambert, Savannah Mortimer, Emily Penrose, Olivia Tongue and Emily Wackrow.
Senior Team List: Rachael Griffiths, Mila Hopwood-Craig, Lucy Kilgour, Greer Newman, Demira Reynolds, Lara Urwin, Emily Young and Selina Yu.
