1st XI Football Super Eight Champions

Hamilton Boys’ High School’s 1st XI Football team overcame both hostile opposition and weather in Gisborne earlier this week to claim the New Zealand Super Eight Football Shield for the first time since 2002. Gisborne Civil Defence was on full alert as rain pounded the area and threatened to cause the tournament to be abandoned, but by making use of alternative grounds the games were allowed to continue.

Hamilton Boys’ got its Super Eight campaign off to a positive start on Monday morning with a 3:1 win over hosts Gisborne Boys’ High School. Adam Wallis netted twice and new recruit Shane-Lee Jenkins scored his opening goal of the competition. However, by 2.00pm the pitches resembled lakes and the match against Rotorua Boys’ High School was abandoned after 15 minutes, with both teams awarded one point.

On Tuesday morning tournament organisers moved all games to Watson Park, which was close to the beach and had managed to absorb huge quantities of rain without affecting the surface. Hamilton Boys’ met its old foe Tauranga Boys’ College and managed to see them off with a 2:0 win. Goals again to Wallis and Jenkins guaranteed a semi-finals berth against Napier Boys’ High School in the afternoon. The rain and now bitter wind continued to make things difficult, but Hamilton Boys’ High School prevailed again in a 2:1 victory with goals to centre back Johnny Konings and central midfielder Jordan Shaw.

The final on Wednesday was moved back to Gisborne Boys High School’s No 1 pitch, and Hamilton Boys’ was pitted against the team it had failed to beat in two previous finals, Palmerston North Boys’ High School. The Manawatu representatives took the lead after just one minute, but Hamilton hit back soon after with a Nick Wilkins goal. The Year 13 student struck again only minutes later to send the small Hamilton crowd and substitutes’ bench into a frenzy, but just before half-time a penalty was awarded against Hamilton for pushing in the penalty box and Palmerston North converted the opportunity to make it 2-all at the break.

The second half was a physical and bruising encounter between two high quality  sides, but the deadlock was broken mid-way through the half when striker Nick Wilkins headed a perfectly weighted cross over the goalkeeper’s head and into the back of the net. Wikins had his Super Eight hatrick and Hamilton Boys’ hung on to claim the shield with an historic 3:2 victory.

Coach Paul Nixon had stepped in to take over the reigns of the 1st XI from NZ U17 Women’s coach Dave Edmondson, who was running a training camp in preparation for the World Cup and was therefore unavailable for Super Eight duties. However, Nixon was unphased by the challenge; he was also the coach of the team when they won their other Super Eight title back in 2002.

According to Team Manager Stuart Hakeney, all players performed with distinction throughout the competition. “Everything just clicked. Wilkins and central midfielder Jarrod Young hadn’t had a lot of game time leading up to this week, but they both had outstanding tournaments. Captain Mathew Gibbons led a formidable backline and striker Adam Wallis caused big problems for every opposition. Coach Nixon told the boys to go out and create a footballing memory that would be for them for the rest of their lives, and they did just that. I’m very proud of them.”

Attention now turns back to the Waikato Premier League, as the HBHS 1st XI continues it’s defence of the title for a tenth consecutive year, with a top of the table clash against St Peters 1st XI on July 24.