The heat was on today in Hamilton as the 2012 NZSS tournament shifted up a gear under blue Waikato skies. With up to four games being played per team it was a monster day of touch with many Semi Final positions not known until the final matches of the day.
The Boys Grade is set up for a repeat of 2011 with Hamilton Boys High School and Rotorua Boys High School back in the Semis and hungry for more. Palmerston North will take on Rotorua while St Kentigern's will be up against the hometown Hamilton boys. A large crowd gathered to watch Rotorua and Hamilton battle it out at 6.20pm today for Diviisonal bragging rights with Rotorua getting home 5-3 and putting an end to the unstoppable-looking HBHS. All four teams have strong chances of making the finals and their 11am Semis will be hot tickets tomorrow.
The Girls Grade also features last year's finalists still in the mix. Mt Albert Grammar have taken all before them in this tournament but will up be against the electric Rangitoto College in an all-Auckland Semi. Hamilton Girls High School were themselves pushed hard by Rangitoto in Divisional play, drawing 6-6 and will locking horns with Mahurangi College for a chance to become back-to-back NZSS champs.
One thing is for certain, there will be new Mixed Champions this year with Macleans College missing out on the Semi Finals. Last year's Runners Up, St Andrew's College finished the top of their Division and will play off against Mt Albert Grammar for a birth in the Final. On the other side of the draw, 2010 champs St Peter's Cambridge will take on an Alfriston College that has looked sharper and more dangerous as the tournament progresses.
Last Modified on 08/12/2012 20:24