Hockey hopefuls head away

A hockey resurgence is underway at Marlborough Boys’ College, and the First XI are leading the way.

The college’s top side have returned to the top echelon of secondary school hockey after a 14-year absence.

The First XI have qualified to play at the prestigious Rankin Cup tournament, to be staged in Auckland from August 25-30, for the first time in over a decade.

They earned a place among the nation’s elite by reaching the Johnson Cup, South Island, final last year and are on well track for a strong showing up north.

On the local scene they qualified top for the premier final and have enjoyed success in their two warm-up inter-school fixtures, beating St Bede’s 6-2 and Shirley BHS 5-1, both teams also headed for the Rankin Cup.

Coach Pip Herd is excited by the potential of the MBC side, most of whom have been together for several seasons.

“Eleven of these boys are in year 13, which means this is the last school age tournament for them and the end of an era for this group,” she said.

“I have had the privilege of knowing several of these boys for a long time and it is a little bit of full circle for some as I coached some of them in their very first season of hockey back at Springlands School 13 years ago. Little did I know they would have dragged a few more in and still be playing together in 2025.

“This team has come a long way in the last five years especially and they should be proud of their resilience, dedication, and hard work. They have had a great 2025 so far … however, the main focus for this team is Rankin Cup.

“Like all tournaments you need a little bit of the luck but I am confident that this team will do Marlborough Boys’ College and the community proud.”

Pip describes the group as, “probably the most well-rounded bunch of teenage boys you will meet”.

“In this team we not only have hockey players, we also have musicians, mountain bikers, rowers, cricketers, tennis and squash players, several prefects, a deputy head boy, two head of house, academics, and community service volunteers, to name a few.

“And I would like to think that being part of this team has helped to shape them in some way.”

Pip says the wider management group, comprising herself, Hugh Girling, Jenny Thomas, Ollie King and Reuben Kepes, have tried to encourage the boys to take ownership of their journey, particularly with regards to making the right decision at the right time, “hopefully fairly quickly”.

Providing the spine of the team on the park will be a group of senior lads.

Centre Sam Young has been in outstanding form of late, Harry Wilkin and Jock Flanagan are reliable defenders, Mason and Alex Herd have proved solid in midfield while Lachlan MacNeill and Luke Holdaway are key players up front.

Every successful hockey side requires authority and direction from their goalkeepers and Harrison Fishburn and Louis Girling provide that.

Thirty-two teams will contest the Rankin Cup, MBC being drawn in the same group as Hamilton BHS, St Kentigern College and Rongotai College. The bottom four sides will drop out of the top tier for the following season.

Pip points to the flow-on effect such a successful First XI has had on the MBC hockey programme, with 100 boys trialling to be part of the college’s many teams.

“The number who trialled is well up on previous years,” said Pip. “The parents are keen and it is a really nice environment. Hockey is being talked about at the school nowadays.”

Illustrating the resurgence at MBC is the fact three sides competed in the finals of the local hockey competitions on Saturday, all finishing runners-up.

The MBC First XI are not the only side travelling out of town during School Sport Week. The 2nd XI will head to Oamaru to take part in the Galletly Cup tournament from August 24-29.

Uniform sponsors for MBC are: Liquid action, WK Accountants and Advisors, Rob Blick Building, Eckford Engineering and Coles Contracting. Tournament sponsors are Pub Charity and Cookie time.

MBC 1st XV: Louis Girling, Aidan Bennett, Alex Herd, Alex Macri, Ben Storey, Billy Hurren, Harrison Fishburn, Harry Wilkin, Jack Watts, Jock Flanagan (C), Lachlan MacNeill, Liam Harcus, Logan Flight, Luke Holdaway, Mason Herd (VC), Rhys McWilliam, Sam Young (VC). Coaches Pip Herd and Hugh Girling.

MBC 2nd XI: Angus Walter, Willem Rowe, Ollie Phipps, Oscar Mason, Nico Kenyon, Paddy Girling, Theo McNulty, Jonti Craig, Keegan Middleton, Lachie Cooney, Hunter Ward, Harry McNeill, Isaac Coleman, Daniel Baker, Corrin McWilliams, Logan Plantharber, Kahu Tai Rakena. Coaches Dave Craig and Josh Ward. Manager Lucy Walter.