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1st XI Football Trident Trophy in New Plymouth

During winter tournament  week the 1st XI travelled to New Plymouth for the Trident Trophy. HBHS took a young squad with nine players in Year 10 and Year 11. The week started well with an 8-0 win against Wainuiomata, however the ease of the win did not prepare us well for the afternoon game against eventual runners up, St Johns Hamilton.  An older more experienced and physical side took advantage of some individual errors and the game was lost 4-0 in the first half. A much better second half (0-0), showed how well we can play and gained credible comments from the opposing coach and referee.

The following day we completed the first round with a disappointing 3-2 loss to Bethlehem College. Despite dominating the possession and playing the more attractive football, the opposition used their extra height and physicality (aided by a howling wind) to edge the game. Next up we played Spotswood College, again in a howling wind. Young legs were unable to cope with the second game and we were beaten 3-0 by a team relying on three good individual players, by far our worst performance of the week.  We now had to face so far unbeaten Thames College. Despite losing the game 1-0, this was our best performance of the week. We played good controlled football, dominating the possession and creating the majority of the chances. Just when it looked like being a draw and with five minutes on the clock we made a mess of a high ball into the box and it fell to one of their players who calmly netted the winner. The coach commented that we deserved more from the game and we had played the best football he had seen all week.Our goal of reaching the top 10 was now in danger and we had to win well in the afternoon. Playing Inglewood school, we started slowly before getting our two touch passing game going and opening up their defence time and time again. An outstanding performance from their goalkeeper kept the score down to 7-0.
 
We were placed 12th after the pool play and by chance were drawn against 9th placed Bethlehem College for a place in the top ten.  It still niggled that we had outplayed them and lost, so the chance to put that right straight away was an exciting prospect. A change in the formation with 5 at the back to give ourselves more protection and a swift counter attack game was the plan. This was our final and HBHS really stepped up to the mark. Despite trailing to an early goal we did not panic and kept to the plan, eventually playing ourselves back into the match and being rewarded with two first half goals. Bethlehem came at us strongly in the second half but excellent cover defence from all the team kept them at bay. Superb two touch football took the ball from defence into attack on numerous occasions and we were eventually rewarded with two further goals which took the game away from a dejected Bethlehem College, 4-1 the final result and a top ten placing. We met Harewa College the next day and changed the team and formation completely to give everyone a game, particularly the the Year 13’s who were playing their last game and the bench players. Despite this we still dominated the game but the opponents goal seemed to be charmed and two break away goals cost us the match.
 
All in all a very good week, with some pleasing comments from opposing coaches and referees about the standard of our football, I personally believe we were the best foot balling side in the tournament and as we get physically and mentally stronger over the next two years, this team can achieve to a very high level.
 
Mick Darmody
Coach, 1st XI Football Team