THE battle for Fiji’s secondary schools hockey crowns is already shaping into a fiercely contested affair after defending champions were pushed to their limits on the opening day of the Fiji Secondary Schools National Hockey Tournament in Lautoka yesterday.
With the country’s top young hockey players gathered at the Nadovu Grounds, the national tournament wasted little time producing drama, upsets and tight finishes across the under-16 and under-19 boys and girls divisions.
Defending under-16 boys champions Marist Brothers High School (MBHS) were given an early wake-up call, fighting out a 2-2 draw with Tilak High School (THS).
There was more evidence that no team would have an easy path to the national title when debutants Kalabu Secondary School (KSS) announced their arrival.
The newcomers held Suva Grammar School (SGS) to a 1-1 draw in the U16 boys grade, while their U16 girls showed plenty of determination in a narrow 1-0 defeat to THS.
Saint Thomas High School (STHS) emerged with an important win in the under-19 girls competition, edging Adi Cakobau School (ACS) 2-1.
Defending U19 girls champions SGS opened with a 2-0 victory over THS before being held to a scoreless draw by Suva Jai Narayan College (SJSS), another result underlining the unpredictable nature of the competition.
The U19 boys competition also delivered an early setback for defending champions Levuka Public School (LPS), who went down 1-0 to THS.
MBHS began their campaign with a 1-0 win over Suva Christian School (SCHS), while Dudley High School (DMHS) edged SGS by the same scoreline.
In the U16 girls competition, ACS made a statement with a 3-0 win over SGS, while Suva Jai Narayan College (SJC) swept aside KSS 5-0.
John Wesley High School (JWHS) and ACS played out a 1-1 draw, while SJSS and SGS could not be separated in their U19 girls clash, finishing scoreless.
Thirteen schools, including tournament newcomers KSS, are represented at the national championship, with 38 teams from Suva, Lautoka and Ovalau competing for four national titles.
After an opening day in which champions were challenged and newcomers showed they belonged, the race to be crowned Fiji’s best school hockey teams is wide open.
