Challenge Shield in our hands
27 Aug 2020
Getting their hands on the Challenge Shield has been a season鈥檚 highlight for the 1st XI who wrested the coveted trophy from St Thomas of Canterbury College a week ago, and successfully defended it from St Bede鈥檚 College on Wednesday night, 26 August.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got some very good talent and the boys are really excited to be the first ones to win the shield. We鈥檝e never had our hands on it before 鈥� it鈥檚 been dominated in recent times by St Thomas鈥檚,鈥� says MiC football Matt Cortesi.
鈥淏ut there鈥檚 a tinge of disappointment too, that the national tournament won鈥檛 go ahead next week as planned.鈥�
Like everything, the Canterbury secondary schools鈥� premier football tournament has been disrupted by the Covid-19 restrictions. Nevertheless, even with the uncertainty of national Covid alert level changes, the College boys have retained their zeal and fire both in training sessions and on the field.
They played a sterling match against St Thomas鈥檚 two weeks ago, winning 1颅鈥�0, and were kindly shouted fish and chips afterwards by Theo鈥檚 Fisheries, who also sponsor the team.
The 2鈥�1 win against top of the table St Bede鈥檚 followed this week. College started the latest game steadily and created some early chances, the St Bede鈥檚 keeper keeping the game scoreless at half-time. But early in the second half he faltered allowing Caleb Manson to pounce and through sheer determination in the goalmouth scramble, tuck the ball home. Not long afterwards Caleb Palmer turned the ball over again and played in Kosei Oikawa who caught St Bede鈥檚 on the break.
With the next defence taking place against Lincoln High School on 9 September, College has already automatically qualified for the semi-finals on 16 September. The finals will be held on 23 September.
The team has already made sure its name figures twice on the back of the shield 鈥� now it鈥檚 hoping it will make the front as well, as the title holder and winner for the season.
Photo credit: Tony Oikawa
