HBHS Football Super 8 Tournament Report

HBHS 1^st XI Football team travelled to Tauranga earlier this week for the 15^th Super 8 Football Tournament, with a goal of defending the shield for the first time. The Super 8 tournament is contested by the top 8 boys schools outside of Auckland and is now considered to be one of the toughest football competitions held outside of the National Tournament. HBHS started its defence with victories over Rotorua Boys’ (3-1), Tauranga Boys’ (4-0) and Napier Boys’ (6-0). The semi final was against Hastings Boys’ High, which Hamilton also won 6-0. Four games in 2 days was taking its toll on the boys and 5 quickly arranged physio appointments helped the boys to look forward to the final on Wednesday morning.

With such a dominant performance through pool play and in the semi final, expectations were high for the final against Palmerston North Boys’ High School. The final was a great game with plenty of highlights. A disallowed goal in the first half was disappointing, but the Hamilton team handled it well and continued to apply most of the pressure. In the 2^nd half HBHS showed great strength and fitness, storming home to a 2-0 victory, with goals to team captain Cade Fleming and Yr 11 central midfielder Liam Hayes.  Cade Fleming was named MVP (most valuable player) of the final.

HBHS had 7 players score at least 2 goals during the tournament, which showed great balance throughout the team. With 21 goals scored across 5 games and only 1 goal conceded, HBHS now focuses on winning back the Waikato Division One Title (which it lost last year for the first time in 13 years) and defending the KO Cup over the next month.  The team has also qualified for the Elite top 16 National Secondary Schools Football Tournament, to be played in Napier in September.