Elation morphed into devastation for Cambridge High School’s 1st XI Boys’ hockey players last Tuesday night (June 17), when a tantalising chance to make history was snatched away at the last minute.
Alfie Stowell-Sneyd takes on St Paul’s Collegiate’s goalkeeper during a penalty shootout
Playing for the school’s first-ever spot in a Waikato Secondary School Hockey U18A league final, Cambridge looked dominant playing away against St Paul’s Collegiate, going into the last quarter of the match with a 3-0 lead.
However, celebrations turned to desolation when St Paul’s struck back with three goals in the game’s final 15 minutes, forcing a penalty shootout.
Cambridge lost the shootout, leaving players and sideline supporters deflated.
But their coach, Cam Bichan, is certain the team will have their time in the sun.
“It was obviously gutting – we’ve got ambitions to play at the top end of the Waikato comp, so we’d like to be there, but at the same time, I’m happy the boys delivered on the game plan,” he said.
“It was sort of a couple of goals against the run of play, with some very good players. I can’t be unhappy because the boys did everything we asked.
“I know as well, with the trajectory for Cambridge High hockey, we’re going to get our chance. So it’s tough for our year 13s in the final year of school but for the young boys their chance will come in a Waikato final.”
Hockey coach Cam Bichan works hard for Te Awamutu Finnz during a match against Fraser Tech
Ups and downs are all part of the job for Bichan, who lives in Cambridge and has coached the 1st XI boys since 2019.
He – and several of his Cambridge High School players – were involved in another epic battle on Sunday night (June 22), when their Te Awamutu Finnz club hockey team took on Fraser Tech Hockey Club’s senior reserve men’s team in a league relegation match.
The team, affiliated with Te Awamutu Sports Club, plays in Waikato Hockey Association’s men’s senior reserve 1 grade.
After a season of mixed results, they went into round 13 against Fraser Tech on Sunday evening needing a draw or a win to avoid relegation to the men’s senior reserve 2 grade.
The sides had met for the first time just two weeks earlier on June 8 and drawn 2-2.
Sunday’s match was another arm wrestle, and although Te Awamutu had the upper hand with possession and created an abundance of attacking chances, their strikers were repeatedly denied by an in-form goalkeeper.
Three minutes before the final whistle, with the score tied at nil-all, Fraser Tech switched their goalkeeper for an extra on-field player in a last-minute bid to get the goal they desperately needed.
However, Te Awamutu was able to hold on and draw the game 0-0 to avoid relegation.
Bichan said he was particularly happy with the result because it would allow the Cambridge High School players in his team continued exposure to a higher level of hockey.
“I think the difference between reserve 1 and reserve 2 is just a bit of a jump in terms of the quality of players they play,” he said.
“It’s a priority for our reserve team to feed players through, which we’ve done successfully, so we want our young guys playing the best players they can.”
After a tough night with his school team’s loss to St Paul’s on Tuesday, the dedicated coach said it was nice to have his week finish on a high.
Hockey coach Cam Bichan works hard for Te Awamutu Finnz during a match against Fraser Tech
