Football 2017 Season

Okay so ... coming off a disappointing season last year we started fresh NEW SEASON, NEW TEAM, NEW POSTIVE OUTLOOK. At the beginning of the season a few of us boys got together and set realistic goals we wanted to achieve. Some of which included winning the shield, winning the league and making it back to top nationals. These were big goals so we had to break them down and this begin working on the process. Taking each game at a time and trusting our coaches and teammates.

We had a shaky start to the season losing our first game to St Bedes, people started to have doubts about us. We learned from this game and this made us step up and play for each other and the crest on our shirts. We then went on a 7 game win streak picking up the shield off Middleton in a 5-1 win then defending the shield for 4 matches. Winning 7 of our first 8 games was important because only the top 4 teams made it to nationals but it us getting number 1 seed would make life a lot easier when we got to nationals as we didn’t have to play other top teams and other number one seeds until quarter finals this giving us a better shot at dong well all part of the process on our way to nationals. We then went on to Beat all the other top teams as we ended the season 10-2 and outright winning the school football league .

Playoffs is always a different story and brings out the best in teams. So we couldn’t take Burnside lightly which I think we might of. We conceded 2 quick goals but pulled it together to win 5-3 to reach the final. The final didn’t end the way we would of liked losing in pens, it was amazing having sooo much support at the game, it was the biggest crowd I had seen at a football game I had seen in my 7 years at ST Thomas and I thank everyone who got down there to support us

Leading into tournament we had a couple of days to pick up our head and get ready for nationals. Being back at top nationals after not making it last year everyone was pumped. We left on the Sunday morning and flue to wellington then drove to Napier which was a bit of a mish.

Later that night we had a meeting to sort everything out and give everyone a rundown of what was happening tomorrow. The first two days were the longest as we had 2 games a day. Our second game against rangitoto was our defining game. The boys showed heart and girt wanting the game from start to finish. Some of the moments that are still fresh in my memory are lachie doyle making a huge double save to keep us at 0-0 then us going down the other end and treye bagging a bottom corner goal. Tom stewart clearing the ball of the line. This game was the turning point for us, now knowing we can go deep in this. Rangitoto ended up beating Stac 5-0.

Jumping forward to the round of 16 we brushed off Cashmere beating them 2-0 but losing a key player in Fin. Mr Washington and Mr Allen made a deal Quarter final we matched up against ST Pats. They won the Wellington league so we knew they would be no joke.. we had a game plan and we got stuck in.  A little too stuck in as Lachie got sent from the field from a poor decision from the ref.  Anton, our back up keeper, got straight in there and did a job ...  no words just woweee, pulling off two penalty saves and winning us the game. 

Creating history we made had made top 4.

The semi final was a different story we came up against defending champions’ Sacred Heart. We played a quality first half keeping the score at 0-0. Then we got beat by a better team. Tired legs started to get to us and we fell off the pace losing 3-0. We ended nationals 4th place. This our journey over for 4 of us year 13s. 

By Michael White