Smith hopes tournament will cap off ‘best season’

Southland Boys’ High School footballer Henry Smith is looking to cap off his ‘‘best season’’ at the Linwood Boys’ Football Tournament in Invercargill.

The striker was an integral part of the Old Boys team in 2016, helping them claim Southland football’s prestigious Donald Gray Cup with eight goals.

The 17-year-old was pleased with the 2016 season which also included being named a finalist for the Young Player of the Year at the Southland Football Awards.

‘‘I probably had my best season of football to date, I would say,’’ he said.

‘‘I managed to get nominated for the Southland Young Player of the Year, so I was pretty stoked about that.’’

Smith is hoping for an improved showing by SBHS at this year’s tournament in Invercargill after a disappointing sixth place last year, although he was named MVP for the Boys’ High team.

‘‘Overall, we could have done better,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s my last year at school this year, so we want to push and hopefully make the final.’’

Boys’ High bring bring a mainly unchanged squad into the tournament which starts today and represent one of the stronger hometown chances at the event to be staged at Turnbull Thomson Park.

Six Southland schools will be participating in the meet, featuring 15 teams from around the South Island.

Central Southland, James Hargest, Gore, Verdon and Wakatipu will represent the southern schools at the event starting on Monday.

Smith sees last year’s finalist John McGlashan College, Waitaki Boys’ High School and Wakatipu High School among the teams to beat.

‘‘We know John McGlashan is tough, they have made the final the last two years,’’ he said.

‘‘Waitaki we played in the inter-school and we only just lost to them.

‘‘It will be good to play them and hopefully get one back over them.’’ ‘‘I think Wakatipu have a strong team. ‘‘We played them last year and got well beaten 5-1.

‘‘They’ve got some of the Rovers players, so they will be tough competition if we play them.’’

He is also looking forward to the opportunity of playing against local rivals James Hargest College.