On the 4th of March 2025, 10 teams from Hillcrest High School travelled over the hill to Tauranga, for a sports exchange with Otūmoetai College. We hosted Otūmoetai in Term 3 2024 for a winter sports exchange and are thrilled with the growing relationship and having a summer sport offering for our teams.
We were welcomed into Otūmoetai with a powhiri, marking the start of a great day for our codes. Thank you to Mr. Luke Ashby for speaking on behalf of our teams and staff and to Shanti for leading our kura in waiata.
Let the games begin! The XI Cricket boys headed offsite, while all other games were played on campus.
Futsal Senior Girls Premier
A nervous start to the game allowed Otūmoetai into the game, but our girls fought hard and stayed in control. Some great goals combined with ruthless defence kept the game even until the last minute, where a ‘dubious’ penalty call gave Otūmoetai the win (3-4).
Futsal Junior Girls Premier
From start to finish, our girls held control of this game. We defended well, pushed our attack and created plenty of opportunities. A dominant performance and a comfortable win (6-2).
Futsal Senior Boys Premier
An exciting and physical game, it was end to end in the first half (4-4). Second half, our boys took control and brought their fight and style to the court, a dominating win (8-5).
Futsal Junior Boys Premier
Going up against a strong Otūmoetai team, the boys fought hard from end to end. A great performance from Gk Connor who not only scored but saved a penalty as well. Unfortunately we couldn’t keep them out and a few mistakes cost us the game (2-4).
Volleyball
Otūmoetai has a very strong volleyball program and it was a great opportunity for our teams to get some extra game time outside of the local competition ahead of upcoming tournament week. Thanks very much to Liam Smith and Shanti McKoy who helped out with both teams on the day as their coaches were unable to be present. As well as Shaunna Polley for coming along to oversee our teams and offer valuable advice.
Senior Girls Prem – 3-0 (OTC)
Senior Girls Dev – 1-2 (HHS)
Senior Boys Prem – 3-0 (HHS)
Senior Boys Dev – 2-1 (OTC)
Cricket Boys First XI
A tough start for our boys against a strong Otūmoetai team, we pulled it back with a few quick wickets from Suthuija. Great development game for our team. Final score Otūmoetai 182 for 5 and Hillcrest got to 124 for 5 off our 20 overs.
Cricket Girls First XI
Our girls bowled first and were faced with some very experienced and skillful batters in the Otūmoetai team who were able to build a formidable total despite some effective bowling from our team. In the second innings, our girls chased the total with ambition and skill but ultimately fell short of the target. There was some great cricket played on the day from both teams and our girls benefitted from coming up against a team who had been at nationals the year before.
We finished with a closing ceremony and overall results announced by Otūmoetai’s Director of Sport Mr. Ian Ridgeway. Otūmoetai came out on top as overall winners of the exchange, celebrated by an epic haka from their Kapa Hapa group.
Overall, we were so impressed with the hospitality and sportsmanship shown from the players and staff of Otūmoetai College. They put up some great competition for our teams and set the bar high for when we host their teams for the winter exchange later on this year.
Huge thank you to our coaches and staff for supporting our teams on the day. And thank you to both Director of Sport Ben Kennedy and Ian Ridgeway for all their work organising behind the scenes to make this day possible for our students.
Until winter Otūmoetai!
