Football Knockout Cup Champions!

The Saint Kentigern College Boys 1st XI Football team were triumphant in the Premier Knockout Cupon Saturday September 10. After making their way through to the semi-final without incident, the team had an epic battle with Sacred Heart College winning 3 -1 in extra time. This set up a final with Auckland Grammar School who were winners over Mt Roskill Grammar School.

The final was played at Bill McKinlay Park on astro-turf in front of a good crowd of around 500. Ben Mata scored early from a corner and the momentum was clearly with Saint Kentigern, although Grammar had a number of opportunities of their own. There was a wind advantage which favoured Saint Kentigern in the 2nd half, so when the teams turned at half time with the score still 1-nil, there was much expectation that the cup was ours to lose.

Once again both teams had chances but when Charles Spragg was brought down inside the penalty area and Ben Mata struck home the ensuing penalty, the momentum was definitely with us. With one more twist in the tale, Auckland Grammar scored from a lapse in concentration at the back from Saint Kentigern, and the last 5 minutes had the crowd on edge.

The score remained 2-1 though, and the silverware was held aloft by captain Liam Williams! This capped off a stellar season by the team. They only lost two games all season, both to the same team and one of those in a penalty shootout when the scores were still locked 1-all after extra time.

In 2016 they were runners up in the Auckland League, runners up in the Lotto National Tournament but they are the Auckland Knockout Cup Champions.

Congratulations to Head Coach Chris Zoricich, Assistant Coach Adam Bannister team manager Keith Taylor and the team. Well done boys!