We started with 14 teams back in May, now only four remain. It's finals night for the Connetics Secondary School Premier (SSP) and we have two enthralling games to end what has been an entertaining and exciting school season.
The boy’s final takes place first with defending champions
Christ's College up against
St Andrew's College in a clash that sees the top two boys schools in recent years going head to head. Since the SPL began back in 2012, all five titles have been secured by either STAC or Christ's, and they have played each other in three finals, two of which ended in penalty strokes. In their regular season match this year, Christ's came out on top 2-1, while in the pre-season competition STAC were victors by the same score. Tonight's match will no doubt be another tight one.
Unbeaten in the 2017 SSP, Christ's College will join St Andrew's on three titles if they can go back to back. Coached by Chris Goldsbury and Joe Bartholomew, the side contain 10 members of the successful 2016 side. Captain Llewellyn Heale and Nick Lidstone provide the backbone through the midfield, while Henry Phelps is dangerous up front and Louis Beckert a rock in goal at the back if his time management skills allow. Goldsbury missed the 2016 show piece, and after a 7-1 drumming at the hands of STAC in the 2015 final, some of his players have been questioning whether his presence in the dugout will actually be a positive tonight.
St Andrew's College wear a traditional blue strip, but an enormous 13 players have also been seen running around together in the red and black of the Canterbury U18 jerseys. Coaches Ben Owers and Ari Barrow, are glad to have a shot at glory after their CPL teams failed to fire in 2017. Will Mace-Cochrane leads the side and has been in scintillating form all year, while Joseph Yoon will don the pink shoes and headband as he plays his usual defender/midfielder/striker role. A confident Oscar Story has predicted a 5-0 victory for the men in blue.
The girl’s final will have an intensity like no other as
St. Margaret's College meet
Rangi Ruru Girls' School. This is the first time they have met in a final since 2013. On that occasion St. Margaret's came out on top, one of their 12 consecutive Canterbury titles in a streak that ended in 2015. Their two regular matches in 2017 left both sides with a win, the most recent seeing St. Margaret's claim the Pat Barwick Shield. They also met two weeks ago in week one of the finals, with St. Margaret's claiming bragging rights and the favourites tag heading into tonight's fourth and final local clash.
St. Margaret's College are on a current winning streak of 13 matches, thanks largely to the goal scoring efforts of key strikers Emily Wium and Charlotte Lee. The duo cause havoc up front all game, with team mates and fellow students even nick-naming the paring 'Emi-Lee.' Biddy Tothill and Mel Puckett hold the team together through the midfield, with Puckett doing especially well to swap lineouts and scrums for overheads and sweep hits on a weekly basis. Coach Sunjay Ganda has the chance to claim his first secondary school title after falling short 12 months ago.
Rangi Ruru thrive as the underdogs, and will be glad to have put their end of season speed wobbles behind them as they look to claim the Canterbury title that has eluded them longer than youngster Tessa Reid has been alive. Ferocious leader Annabelle Wilson will be let loose once again, and her partnership with Brittany Wang and Lucy Simpson up front will be crucial. Aaron Ford coaches the side who have spent a huge number of hours on the training paddock over the past few weeks in the build up to tonight's big dance.
The boys match kicks off at 6.10pm, followed by the girls’ game at 7.20pm. Hospitality will be onsite from 5pm, with food and drink to cater for all ages in what will can only be described as the biggest, busiest and best Friday night of the year!