Published on: 21 August 2014





Christ Church’s First XI was the big winner in the final round of the 2014 winter sports season on Saturday. The soccer team clinched the PSA victory after losing just one game during the season.

Head Coach Mark Lee, who coaches the Firsts with Gareth Phillips, said a pre-season win against visiting side Melbourne Grammar School in April was a good indicator for the season ahead. However, he described the PSA victory as icing on the cake to the ongoing success of the soccer program at Christ Church.

Mark said he charged the senior players with creating a positive DNA, being a better person than footballer, and inspiring the younger generation of footballers at Christ Church. “Regularly attending training sessions, working as cohesive group, how you represent the School at games, shaking hands with the opposition – this is all part of the process,” he said.

“You get these things right, the win will take care of itself, and that’s what these boys did.”

Mark said mentoring and training sessions with Director of Cricket Mickey Arthur and former Australian Men’s Hockey coach Ric Charlesworth (Class of 1969) proved invaluable and added further kudos to the program’s philosophy. He also thanked Headmaster Garth Wynne and Director of Sport Anthony Lynch for their support, as well as goalkeeper coach Sam Stone (Class of 2012) for his efforts.

Mr Lynch said Christ Church finished in the top three in four of the six sports this season. Firsts Rugby had a highly successful season, finishing in second place, and was the first team to beat Hale School (Round 9) in over two years.

Firsts Badminton had an excellent season, finishing in second place behind badminton stronghold Wesley College, who was the only school the Christ Church team lost to during the season. The School’s cross country team also performed well finishing third overall.

The final PSA placings were:

Badminton – Second

Cross Country – Third

Football – Seventh

Hockey – Fifth

Rugby – Second

Soccer – First

Photographs courtesy of Anna Rowe and the Photography Club