Fast Starts Count – Chris Goodwin

Chris Goodwin is the sports captain at Hamilton Boys’ High School. He likes to do things quickly. He won two gold medals representing New Zealand in High Jump and Long Jump at the Oceania Regional Championships in the summer. In the winter he is the co-captain of the Hamilton BHS First XI football team.


The past fortnight has been a resounding success for the footballers. They beat Tauranga Boys’ College 2-1 to win the Waikato/Bay of Plenty regional title and earn qualification for the Top 16 at Nationals. This week they won the Super 8 title for the fifth time trouncing hosts Palmerston North Boys’ High School 4-0 in the final.  Hamilton haven’t always started their games in convincing fashion Goodwin explains.
“We came out firing against Tauranga, but we couldn’t convert our chances into goals. We conceded a goal from a corner mistake and were behind at halftime. In the second-half we scored two goals. Stafford Dowling got the winner with about 20 minutes to go.”


A sluggish start hampered Hamilton’s first game in the Super 8 tournament against Hastings Boys’ High School.
“We were tentative and that was reflected in the score line. We were nervous, but once we gained our composure we played some good football. We worked hard to start better for the rest of the tournament,” Goodwin says.
A Lachie McIsaac goal gave Hamilton a 1-0 win. In their next group game they beat Napier Boys’ High School 3-1 to secure their place in the semi-finals. Goals were scored bySzymon Poborowski, Dowling and McIsaac in a more impressive performance.
“We started with great intent against Napier and got a couple of goals in the first-half. It was a really good performance,” Goodwin says.
Hamilton rested some of their leading cattle for the last group game against Tauranga Boys’ College which was drawn 1-1.
In the semi-finals Hamilton faced 2015 champions New Plymouth Boys’ High School and won 4-0. Goodwin, Dowling, Luke Woolerton, and an own goal was the source of Hamilton’s profit.
“We played New Plymouth off the park. It was a great performance. The only thing they had was a long ball,” Goodwin enthuses.
In the fourth minute of the final against Palmerston North Boys’ High School Lachie McIsaac hit the post with a fierce shot. It served as an ominous warning to the hosts. Despite being unbeaten in eight previous interschool games, Palmerston North wilted and were thrashed 4-0. Hamilton’s goals were scored by Alex Frank, McIsaac, Goodwin and Woolerton.
“It was a great performance. The boys next goal is to get out of our group at Nationals and then its knockout football where anything can happen,” Goodwin finishes.

---