Christchurch Sweep Wellington in wild and wet sports exchange

Christchurch Boys’ High School won their annual exchange against Wellington College 3-0 in the capital this afternoon. Christchurch won the First XI football 5-2 and hockey 2-1 and the rugby 17-5.
 
Hockey
 
The meeting between the 2017 Rankin Cup runners up, Christchurch Boys’ High School and Wellington champions, Wellington College ended in a 2-1 victory for Christchurch at the National Hockey Stadium.
 
Initially both teams struggled to adapt to the horrid conditions and fluid hockey was hard to come by. Wellington soon gained the upper hand and broke the stalemate with a goal midway through the first-half.
 
Christchurch rallied and equalised through Angus Keast. On the brink of halftime, Christchurch won a penalty corner and Keast struck again to make it 2-1 at the interval.
 
The second-half was scoreless, but Christchurch went closest to boosting their tally in an entertaining spectacle which suggests both are leading contenders in their respective competitions.
 
Devanand Bhika was the captain of Wellington College, Henry Shaw the skipper for Christchurch BHS.
 
Football
 
Two goals each by Ben Crowley and Darius Van Wyk was the highlight of Christchurch’s 5-2 victory.
 
Crowley illustrated his considerable threat in the first 10 minutes by opening the visitors account, blasting home a rebound off the Wellington keeper. Moments later Crowley delivered a pinpoint corner for captain Chris Bommer to finish.
 
Wellington halved the deficit when a Jarred Hodson shot took a wicked deflection and slid by the hopelessly prone keeper.
 
Christchurch scored first in the second-half to make it 3-1, but Alex Johnson continued his goal scoring spree to make it 3-2.
 
Ultimately Christchurch was more clinical and the double threat of Crowley and Van Wyk proved too hard to contain.
 
The Christchurch league features 13 teams and is headed by St Thomas of Canterbury College who haven't conceded a goal in six games.
 
On Saturday, Wellington opened the Trevor Rigby Cup with a disappointing 0-3 loss to Rongotai College.
 
Rugby
 
Christchurch Boys’ High School scored their 12th win against Wellington College since 1995, battling to a 17-5 victory.
 
Wellington wilted in similar conditions last Wednesday in a record loss to St Patrick’s College, Silverstream.
 
Today the hosts defence was far more committed and effective resulting in a genuinely competitive tussle.
 
Christchurch possibly enjoyed three quarters of the territory, but didn’t breach the Wellington line until about the 20th minute when burly No.8 Corban Harding bustled over. The try happened after three reset scrums as both front rows struggled with their footing in the slush.
 
The Christchurch halves pairing of Louie Chapman and Ollie Lewis formed a sound partnership, frequently sending Wellington into retreat with some assured kicking.
 
Just prior to halftime, Christchurch scored their second try when prop Austin Hewitt rumbled over, punishing a Wellington fumble. The tighthead was excellent for Christchurch bossing his side of the scrum and carrying strongly.
 
Wellington’s best chance in the first-half was when centre Frank Coop kicked a spillage forward and only just missed placing the ball before the dead ball line.
 
Wellington would make Christchurch pay from a kick early in the second spell though. A knock on by Max Hughes was hacked ahead by opposite Liam Collett who outpaced all chasers.
 
The mud made most of the combatants indistinguishable and ball almost impossible to catch. The kick was the most potent attacking weapon and Hughes sealed Christchurch’s win, atoning for his earlier blemish, by kicking precisely for wing Yoji Yabe to slide in.
 
Wellington tighthead Geordie Bean and openside Ridge Studd were tireless and sometimes brushing on defense.
 
On Saturday, Wellington College meets St Bernard’s College while Christchurch Boys’ High School clash with St Bede’s College.

Below: Try scoring highlights from the First XV rugby and first half football photos: