College’s Senior A team has won the South Island Secondary Schools Basketball Championships, beating Waimea College, 106–55, in the final in Invercargill.

The title marks the return of the first secondary school winter tournament week since 2019 as College teams and individuals compete at a range of South Island and national events.

Next up, the Senior A side will target the national schools title in October.

Hunter Adam, Tom Harrison, and Jordan Braithwaite led the Basketball charge in the final, scoring 31, 22, and 15 points, respectively. Jordan also impressed with 13 rebounds, along with Liam Jack (nine) and Ihaka Cate (eight).

In pool play, the team was unbeaten, scoring more than 100 points in four of the five games and delivering winning margins of at least 50 points.

In Nelson, the Junior A side just fell short of emulating the senior players, impressing throughout the tournament before being beaten in the final by Nelson College, 97–95.

In Dunedin, the Senior B side finished 4th in the Southern Cup after wins over John McGlashan College, Taieri College, King’s High School, and Menzies College. In the playoff for a top-three finish, the team launched a great fourth-quarter comeback but eventually lost to Papanui High School, 92–85.

Cycling

In Blenheim, cyclist Ben Crawford was 2nd overall in the U16 two-day southern tour after finishing 3rd in the individual time trial, and 2nd in the criterium, hill climb, and road race.

Rugby

In U15 Rugby, College travelled to Oamaru for the South Island Invitational Tournament. With four games in four days, it was a challenge. However, the squad produced some great performances to beat Marlborough Boys’ College, 17–12, and Waitaki Boys’ High School, 40–9. In a top-of-the-table clash, Southland Boys’ High School won, 34–7. However, College then beat Shirley Boys’ High School, 32–10, to finish third at the tournament.

Playing at home, an U16 team – featuring players from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd XV sides – was too strong for Nelson College, 40–12, and John McGlashan College, 53–17.

Football

The College 1st XI finished the best of the South Island teams at the National Premiership Tournament in Napier after beating Nelson College, St Bede’s College, Otago Boys’ High School, and Timaru Boys’ High School in the playoffs.

In the last match against Napier Boys’ High School, the game was drawn, 3–3, before College lost on penalties to finish 18th overall out of the 32 teams.

In Dunedin, the Junior XI finished 3rd at the inaugural invitational tournament following wins over Marlborough Boys’ College, Southland Boys’ High School – featuring seven goals by Nikau Davies – and Shirley Boys’ High School.

Hockey

In the Rankin Cup in Albany, the 1st XI qualified for the top 16 after wins over Southland Boys’ High School and Rathkeale College. In the playoffs, the side then lost to St Kentigern, 1–0, and John McGlashan College, 3–2, before beating King’s College, 4–1, and – for the first time – Hamilton Boys’ High School, 2–0, to finish 13th overall.

In Blenheim, the College 2nd XI competed in the national Galletly Cup for the first time. After a mixed bag of draws and a few losses, the team lost the playoff game against St Bede’s College, 1–0, but defeated Tauranga Boys’ College, 5–1, to finish 7th overall.