Blogs • The President 2008

After a busy few weeks the College is on holiday, although quite a few have opted to stay in Dunedin to make the most of the quieter College to study for final exams in just over 7 weeks.  As we've reached crunch stage in our sporting and cultural competitions I'll just bring you up to speed so any news over the next few weeks doesn't come as too much of a surprise! 

Before we get into that I'll touch briefly on the College House Sporting Exchange, held over the 15th-17th of August in Christchurch.  While I wasn't able to attend because of my hockey team's semi final in Dunedin I was told that it was a great weekend in all respects apart from the results of the games.  Unfortunately College House were able to win 6-3 overall, but our athletes were contempt, approaching this exchange as more of a social meeting than our equivalent with Knox. 

Speaking of which, in the Nevill Cup things still aren't looking too hopeful.  Down 10-50 we need to win all of the remaining events; Big and Small Choir, Dance and Shakespeare in order to retain the Cup.  Although this isn't impossible the Choir events have always been Knox's strength so we are clearly fighting an uphill battle. 

The Cameron Shield has been a little more eventful over the last few weeks of term; Rugby, Netball, Cross Country and Volleyball have all been completed. 



Volleyball was a particularly tight affair, the girls game held first resulted in a Selwyn victory in four sets, but the boys match went to the fifth, with the Selwyn lads eventually coming out on top by 3 points.  Between the games we were entertained by an aerobics/cheer-leading routine performed by the Selwyn What Squad.  In secret this group practised their performance for a couple of weeks, and then revealed their work to a surprised and receptive Selwyn crowd - just another secret tradition hidden in Selwyn's walls. 

The Cross Country was run on what must have been the only fine Sunday morning in August.  Starting at Selwyn we always had the advantage as we could get more people out of bed in time for the 11am start!  The honours were shared, Knox taking the girls event while Selwyn ran strong to claim the boys section. 

Last Monday Netball was held at the Edgar Center, with Selwyn quickly establishing their dominance racing out to an 8-2 lead.  Complacency may have got the better of the girls as Knox crept back into the game, but late in the fourth quater when scores were tied a crucial intercept secured the victory for the Maroon and Golds. 

Finally the annual Somerville Shield Rugby Match between Selwyn and Knox was held.  After dominating for seven years, and then loosing 16-3 in frustrating fashion last year the Selwyn camp was fizzing for the match.  13 weeks of preparation and two practice games were setting the boys up in a strong position for what was tipped to be the big revenge match.  Due to the heavy rain the game was shifted from it's home at the Alhambra Rugby Club to the Opoho fields, a shift towards Knox territory, and away from the familiarity of the Selwyn practice ground.  The boys ran out to a strong crowd of current and ex residents including Dicon Sim, the Chairman of the Selwyn College Board of Governors, ready to represent the Selwyn College of 2008. 

  

Knox drew first blood early in the game with a penalty, answered by a penalty for Selwyn from first five Sam McLernon.   The soggy conditions suited 10 man rugby, and both sides certainly looked to keep it in close as much as possible.  When the Selwyn backs were offered the ball they showed plenty of enterprise but failed to make effective line breaks.  Following another penalty Knox went into the break with a 6-3 lead.




After the break Selwyn began to dominate more often than not at the break down, and looked to be putting some pressure on the Knox forwards, however against the run of play a clearing kick was charged down, and a Knoxie toed ahead and collected the ball to secure the only try of the match.  Following a successful conversion from the sideline Knox took a 13-3 lead into the final quater of the game.  Selwyn desperately attacked only to find themselves frustratingly short of territory and Knox managed to hold on for a well earned 13-3 victory, crushing the Selwyn team and it's loyal supporters.

The 2008 Selwyn Rugby Team was (in jersey order): Devon Latoa, Willie Allan (captain), Sofara Aiono, James Harty, Simon Luke (vice captain), Sam Lawson, Jamie Callahan, David Gawith, Tom English, Sam McLernon, Hamish Spear, Willy Sams, Devlin Elliott, Peter Trebilcock, James Hackett.  Reserves: Hugo Webb, Fengyang Lei, Colin Haa, Pat Dowle, Tom Kuperus, Dominic Jones, Sean Conway.

After the game the College was understandably subdued, and slid uneventfully into the mid-semester break.  There is always the overall Cameron Shield situation to consider, a win in the rugby would have secured it for the year.  However, a win in either billiards, hockey, or both men's and women's soccer will be enough to ensure the Rev. Dr. Andrew Cameron's memorial shield is hanging in the Brother's Hall for Knox's Centenary year in 2009.

Hopefully we'll know when the first of those events, soccer, is competed for on the 11th of September.