Manawatu Standard

Slim pickings at tournament week

- Alister Browne

Palmerston North Boys’ High School’s good inter-school form during the year deserted the team at last week’s national schools tournament in Napier.

Despite playing seven games during the week, Boys’ High couldn’t win one, their best result being a 2-2 draw with Rotorua Boys’ in section play.

In their other section games, Boys’ High lost 3-1 against Nelson and 6-1 to Westlake Boys’, both of whom went on to make it into the top eight of the 32 sides who competed in the tournament.

Coach Steve Dawson said in the loss to Westlake, Boys’ High squandered two good chances while trailing 2-1 before the scoreline blew out.

‘‘We didn’t play poorly.’’ Rather, during games Boys’ High would dominate possession and create chances, but then give away soft goals and fail to finish.

He put the side’s conversion rate – goals scored from chances created – at no better than 15 per cent, while conceding a ‘‘very high’’ number in defence.

Dawson said attacking midfielder Luke Minshull was Boys’ High’s stand-out performer in his fourth appearance at the tournament, beginning when he was a year 10 student.

In the premier girls’ tournament in Christchur­ch last week, Palmerston North Girls’ High lost their playoff for 23rd against Otago Girls’ High School on penalties. The sides were 2-2 before the shootout.

Girls’ High had two wins and draw from their seven matches.

In the Easter Cup final in Palmerston North on Saturday, played for by Horizons Premiershi­p sides, Red Sox reserves put on a three-goal burst in the final quarter to come from behind to beat Feilding United 5-3.

It was 2-1 to Red Sox at halftime and, with 10 minutes to go, the teams were locked at 3-all before Red Sox’s final push.

In the Federation Cup final scheduled for next weekend, Massey University is away to Gisborne United.

 ?? ANDY MCGECHAN ?? Red Sox linchpin Michael Sugar gets his pass away just as the Feilding defence attempts a tackle in the Easter Cup final. Red Sox won 5-3.
ANDY MCGECHAN Red Sox linchpin Michael Sugar gets his pass away just as the Feilding defence attempts a tackle in the Easter Cup final. Red Sox won 5-3.

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