2XI Hockey
The 2XI Hockey team had a fantastic week in Whangarei at the Mary Clinton Cup, a tournament primarily contested by 1st XI squads. Despite their youth, the team started strong, topping their pool with an impressive 18 goals scored.
Their semifinal hopes ended in dramatic fashion, after tying with Otumoetai and narrowly losing in a shootout. However, the girls showed great resilience, bouncing back to defeat Rosehill in the 3rd and 4th place playoff, and proudly claiming the bronze medal.
A heartfelt thank you goes to managers Michael and Janie Loveridge, and to our legendary Diocesan Hockey alumnae Lucy and Anna Bannatyne, who balanced full-time jobs and their own hockey commitments while providing coaching, physio, hot/cold supervision, and detailed technical and tactical analysis throughout the week.
1XI Hockey
The 1XI girls opened their campaign in dominant fashion, securing convincing wins over Craighead (8–0), St Peter’s (3–0), Whanganui (3–0), and Taradale (6–0). The strikers produced spectacular goals, while the midfield impressed with slick, quick ball movement. At the back, Kate Wyber (Year 13) and Katie Astwick (Year 11) were standouts, making life difficult for opposing attacks.
A thrilling early crossover saw Dio narrowly edged 2–3 by eventual champions St Margaret’s College. They followed with a 1–1 draw against Auckland champions Westlake Girls, only falling short in the shootout despite a heroic effort from goalkeeper Sophia Dobby (Year 11).
Showing grit and determination, the 1XI closed the week with a hard-fought 1–0 win over Napier Girls, securing 7th place in New Zealand overall. The team finished with the second-highest goal tally of the tournament (25 goals), underlining their attacking firepower.
Special congratulations to captain Livvy Barker (Year 13), who finished as joint top scorer of the tournament with an outstanding 10 goals.
A massive thank you to coach Hitu, manager Miss Phipps, and all the parents for their incredible support throughout the week. What a campaign!
