MBC teams test skills

Marlborough Boys’ College sports sides were put to the test both at home and away during the annual winter sports tournament.

Picking up a bronze medal was the MBC First XI hockey side, who finished third at the Johnson Cup in Nelson.

They opened with wins over Ashburton, 5-0, Nayland, 7-0, before going down 2-1 to Kirstin School. They bounced back to beat Dunstan 6-0, then lost to Nelson 4-2 in the semifinal, before downing Southland 4-0 in the play-off for bronze. Nick Elrick and Mason Herd, with four goals apiece, were MBC’s top scorers. The team scored 25 goals, with 11 different scorers, and conceded just six.

The MBC 2^ndhockey XI travelled to Stratford to take part in the Galletly Cup and found the going tough, losing all their matches against top opposition.

The MBC First XI footballers took part in the Jim Wisheart tournament in Nelson, finishing 10th out of the 18 participants. In pool play MBC lost 5-0 to Rangitoto College, beat Hornby 6-2 then went down 3-1 to Lincoln.

In the play-offs they downed Garin 2-1, then Waimea 2-0 to reach the 9-10 place play-off with Nelson College 2nd XI, who they lost to 2-0.

The MBC junior footballers were in Dunedin and reached the semifinals of their competition, losing 2-0 to Christ’s.

The South Island under-15 rugby tournament was hosted in Blenheim.

MBC were competitive in all their matches but managed just one win on their way to seventh position overall, downing Waitaki 46-12 in their final outing. Previously they lost 27-25 to Christ’s College, 26-10 to Timaru and 18-12 to Nelson.

MBC’s senior A basketball side made the trip to Dunedin’s Edgar Centre for the zone four premier boys tournament, and also found the going tough. In pool play they won once and lost four matches. MBC beat Ashburton 92-59, but went down to St Thomas 87-36, Middelton Grange 79-57, St Bede’s 87-67 and Burnside 74-69. In the play-offs they beat Kaiapoi 80-73, lost to Shirley 80-53 then went down to Hillmorton 66-62 in their final match.

The junior A basketballers were also in Dunedin and finished 13^th in their tournament, beating Wakatipu 71-63 and Rangiora 62-55 in the play-offs after slipping to three losses in the preliminary matches.

MBC riders managed podium placings in the schools cycling event near Seddon.

Finn McKenzie claimed the under-20 boys overall title, with Lachlan McNabb second. Cooper Johnson was second overall in the under-17 boys division, plus runner-up in the criterium and time trial.