Napier 2010 U19 Tournament

Waiuku travelled to the Napier U19 National Satellite Tournament for the first time this year, confident of doing well. The side were manged by Keith Ralph, with Colin Pegg coaching. In addition several parents also accompanied the squad to assist with various tasks in order to give the team the best chance possible.

Unfortunately, preparation for the tournament had a couple of set backs. On the field, the side had two friendlies against Manurewa and Papatoetoe Utd U19 teams, winning both comfortably and instilling confidence in our abilities. Sadly, we lost a key player in Mitch Thomasen with a knee injury in the last game, resulting in his chances of playing in the tournament next to nill. However, Mitch is an important part of the squad and rightly came down with us nonetheless. The problem with Mitch's removal though was that each squad can and needs 18 players to have a realsitic chance to compete. We were now down to 15. Attempts at obtaining 2 'Guest Players' were unsuccessful. However, Harrison McKee, who is in the U17 team volunteered to help us out and joined his brother Thomas in the Squad.

On arrival at our accommodation on the Friday night, whilst the lads and parents were getting organised, Keith and I attended the Manager's meeting at the Napier Rovers ground. Our confidence in our team was high, although we were alittle concerned at finding ourselves in what had been termed the 'Group of Death'. In addition to ourselves, we had Papakura, local champions Maycenvale, a top Wellington league team in Kapiti Coast and a very strong Hibiscus Coast side all in our group.  As newcomers I assume we were unseeded but it would have been nice to play in the easier looking groups like Pukekohe or even Manurewa/Papatoetoe. Still, as Keith quite rightly mentioned, we would still have to beat the best to reach the final so onwards we went.

Our first game on Saturday morning was against local rivals Papakura. Confidence was high and we got stuck into them. However, we were not playing to our full ability, with several players showing both nerves and a lack of commitment in the first half. Opportunities were there to score but we failed to take them. This in turn ultimately cost us, more due to errors on our part than good play from the opposition as we conceeded a poor goal and lost 0-1. Not the best start, but we had only ourselves to blame. Still, it was only one game and so, with a few words of encouragement and a wake up call, we set about Maycenvale. As with Papakura, we were dominating the opposition but again failed to take our goal scoring opportunities. Then, as with our first game, two errors at the back, cost us two avoidable goals and we lost 0-2. To make matters worse, Jamie Pegg rolled his ankle and that took him out of the tournament. Having lost our two opening games, we were under the impression that we could no longer make the semi final and this in turn appeared to take some of the pressure off the team. With Keith giving a pep talk to the boys and myself encouraging the lads from the side, we got into our game against Hibiscus Coast. Knowing they were the strongest team in our group and without seemingly nothing to worry about, the lads started to play as we know they can. Then, deservedly, albeit with a little help from a confused keeper/defender, Dylan Smyth Kirk nipped in at the back post and scored our first goal of the tournament. 1-0 Waiuku! It was just reward for the team who should have been one up a few minutes earlier but missed when it was easier to score! Having gone behind and seeing their 100% record going, Hibiscus Coast came back at us. However, all credit to the lads on the field as they dug in and kept their goal intact, winning 1-0! Great result and restoring confidence in our abilities!

Day Two dawned and we still had one group game to play against Kapiti Coast. Overnight the muscles had cramped up but we manged to get those fit enough, ready to play. Amazingly, on checking the results, mathematically we were still in with a remote shout at the semi if we could beat Kapiti well. Kicking off we were straight into them, forcing errors and again dominating play. As a result, Kapiti players and supporters were getting frustrated., which in turn resulted in a fair amount of abuse directed at our players and which was later reported by the referee. Still, we continued to get on with the game and I was very pleased to see Roddy Peat repay my faith in him as he put away a chance to put us 1-0 up! It was a good poachers goal and it could be seen as several players carried out their version of 'Thriller" to celebrate. Unfortunately, this in turn ensured we were given more 'special' treatment on the field with shirt pulling and late tackles flying in. Unfortunately, our own discipline sufferred, earning us two yellow cards. Then, as we looked like completing our second win, disaster struck as a ball was allowed to bounce and in doing so, went over our keeper and into the net. Worse was to come with the final kick of the game as we failed to close down a Kapiti forward, who subsequently put the ball into the bottom right corner and we lost 1-2. Not a just result, but the result nonetheless!  

So, with out four competition games ending in 3 defeats and 1 win, it was not the best tournament for us. However, the team has learnt and can take heart at what may have been. We had not been outplayed by any team and had conceeded only through our own errors. Indeed, the team beat Hibiscus Coast, who then went on to lose in the final on penalties. In our last game, which was a friendly against Eastern Suburbs, again we played well, especially considering we were down to only 12 fit players and had Stuart Ruddell, our keeper out at left wing. In this match, we more than held our own, with Ryan Lundenberg pulling off a fantastic reflex save and Dom Winters having an excellent free kick tipped around the post. Unfortunately, Suburbs got a winner near the end as the ball some how went through a number of legs and we lost 0-1. Still, it was a nice touch by the Suburbs coach to come over and congratule us on being the best footballing team they had seen and played against. Likwise, the referee made a similar comment so at least we had made the right impression.

Thanks have to go to all those supporters who came to watch us and to all those involved in fundraising to get the team to the tournament, where it was also commented upon that we looked very professional with our tops, tracksuits and bags! Special thanks to Staurt Ruddell, Jesse Smyth Kirk, Caine Robbie and Rob Leonard as this was their first and last go at the Waiuku U19's in which each of them did very well.  

Bring on 2011 when we hope to progress further!