An Outstanding Effort from the Under 15 Dev Team at their Tournament
28 July 2007
Robyn Wells Reports...


Results

Waikato 3 (C Nichol, J Deakins, N Brunton) Hawkes Bay 2

Waikato 2 (N Brunton, J Deakins) Mid Canterbury 4

Quarter-Final Waikato 2 (M Goddard, N Brunton) Horowhenua 1

Semi Final Waikato 1 (J Beech) North Harbour 0

Final Waikato 0 Poverty Bay 2

Final Placing 2nd

Team: Tyler Bichan (captain) Jonathon Deakins (Cambridge) Wesley Vick, Jamie Grice, Matthew Goddard, Carlos Nicho (Otorohanga) Cameron Wells (vice Capt.),Tom Pickett, Craig Hurst, Reuben Christian, Jazz Beech, Michael Eagle (HBHS) Neil Brunton (Morrinsville), Matthew Hansen(St Peters), Robert Carmichael (Maeora Intermediate)

Coach Naaz Shah, Asst Coach Robyn Wells, Manager Lynda Brunton
With only 4 weeks together as a team and the goalie pulling out a week before tournament, this team showed how playing as a team gets results even with an unsuccessful Hatch aged goalie who just started playing in goal this year.

With a draw between the other two teams in our pool it meant that a win over either team would get us into the top 8. Playing Hawkes Bay first up saw us open the scoring from a PC. Hawkes Bay came back and scored 2 goals before half time. Two field goals in the second half and a brilliant save in the circle by Craig Hurst got the boys off to the winning start that they needed.

The boys had the confidence going into their other pool game against Mid Canterbury and 2 field goals in the first half saw them in control of the game.  Unfortunately they lost concentration in the second half to let 4 goals in.  This saw us 2nd in our pool.

In the quarter finals we were up against Horowhenua. Having watched them the day before we had our game plan set.  With 2 PC converted in the first 15 minutes the boys looked comfortable.  Horowhenua scored from a PC just before half time. We were guilty of not finishing off in the second half, but the boys held out for a scoreless second half and the win.

In the semis we were up against North Harbour, who had put out one of the favourite teams Canterbury. Having played North Harbour in a tri series in our first game together as a team and only being beaten narrowly we were confident that we could beat North Harbour.  A goal to Jazz Beech 5 minutes before halftime saw us take the lead.  The boys had many other opportunities that they failed to convert but managed to hold out North Harbour even when North Harbour gained a PC on the final whistle.

This saw us into the final against Poverty Bay.  They had looked strong all tournament and must have gone into the final as favourites. They opened the scoring 12 mins into the game from a PC with a well hit shot from the top of the circle.  The boys fought hard and had their chances but with 2 minutes to go Poverty Bay scored again to seal the match.  An excellent result for this team that was pulled together as a team very late and  stepped up to protect their young goalie who improved with each game.

Players to impress were Wesley Vick with his outstanding defence. The half line of Jamie Grice, Cameron Wells, and Craig Hurst all had steady games with the wing halves doing some super cover defence.  Carlos Nicho and Neil Brunton worked well together to set up a number of attacks up the right. Jonathon Deakins put in 100% no matter where he played, and was there to finish off some wonderful goals.

Many thanks goes to the parents for their wonderful support before and during the tournament.