15th grade district rep tournament

15th grade district rep tournament

Hutt Valley going well, made the final along with Hawkes Bay

Wellington lost their semi to Hawkes Bay after the game was destend to go to extra time, with a goal in the last couple of minutes.

Does anyone know anything about whats been happening at the u17s in Napier?

Someone told me the Hutt Valley U17s didn't go in the end.  Anyone know if that's fact or fiction?

Nah no Hutt Valley there. No idea why.

Correct.  Almost as imaginative as "United Soccer 1" and "Force 3" ... although it does make for some amusing Zone chants and gags.
Smithy2008-10-07 06:28:10

Does anybody know the 17s results from Napier? Watched the 13s finals today the wet weather didnt help. Taranaki had a few big boys which helped. Hutt Valley unlucky to lose to a penalty 1-0.

Tournament won by Hawkes Bay, then Gisborne with Wellington third.David Salmon from Gisborne was Golden Boot (7) and Stephen Kibby (Taranaki taking the MVP. Great result for Gizzy. The other big news was Gisborne also winning Girls U17.

14th grade! We came second to Manawato for the second year running after beating hutt valley in the semis 2-0.

Sounds like the 17's was a pretty weak tournament. In every tournament in the past Gisborne have been one of the whipping boys and Taranaki only managed 3rd in the last tourney because HK had to pull out. 

Cant see the 17's tournament going ahead again next year. Too many players involved in under 19's

Na I've been told that the quality was pretty high at the U17s. Gisborne have a strong team with a number of New Zealand reps and Central Federation reps. I'll admit that Gisborne are usually easy beats in the younger age groups but never seen a Taranaki team in the top three/four.

I'm pretty sure one of the main reasons the U17s was brought in was because so many kids stop playing football around that age and having a rep tournament gives them a bit more to play for. There's always been a gap between U15s and U19s. So what if there's a few players missing because of the U19s. The U17s is two age groups into one tournamnet (U16s/17s) so in those 2 age groups there is sure to be enough quality players who either aren't playing for an U19 club team or aren't quite ready to play for their U19 team and it's those kids who need the tournament.

I think clubs are just being very protective of players in the U19 bracket and not letting them play in 17's. having the 17's is very helpful to keeping players involved in the game inbetween major age groups. Quality at 17 Boys was of a high level, many involved playing both 19's and 17's, and giving themselves extra practice and fitness work

The tournament was of a good standard. Hawkes Bay showed real class. Wellington was also a slick unit with Charlie Howe coaching. Gisborne and Western were also quality. This type of exposure is very important particulary for players from the small centres like Wanganui and Gisborne where good players get in the shop window. You can bet that Gouldie and Mat Chandlier were not only looking at the Hawkes Bay boys. This age group shlould continue as part of rep football. It would be nice if the other federations adopt it too and progress to a national fed tournament as done for the other age groups.

Gisborne side was quality man. 3 current or past NZ age group reps. 3 past fed players. 2 with central league experience. 5 with Pacific league experience. The difference here is that all these lads play club football and now get some quality coaching. The problem with gisborne is the younger age groups play in the local super league competition which is not club based and teams set up in age/school year bands and not ability. This is further reinforced by the perfromance of the 17 year Gisborne Girls.