2nd XI Football Team The 2nd XI football season kicked off on the 2nd April 2016 in the Taranaki Division One Men’s League against Moturoa at Webster Park. This fixture was closely fought game and NPBHS went down 3-1, but the signs were positive. The next three weeks of the season proved to be a real test for the boys and although there were good individual performances, as a team we let ourselves down and lost the next 3 games. The boys kept their beliefs and their fortunes changed, as wins against Francis Douglas, Kaponga, Rangers and Waitara certainly lifted the confidence within the squad along with playing some attractive football. The last 3 games of the round robin were crucial if we were to make the top six of the draw. Two of these games we should have won, but some defensive lapses in concentration cost the team and we were condemned to the bottom six. Unfortunately, the 1st & 2nd Squad began to get a few injuries around the 1st XI of Aiden Smith, Gian Squatritti and Alex Sturmer and this had an effect of the player base of the 2nd XI with Barnaby Kelly, Cormac Tindle and Mykah Emeny being given the opportunity to put on a 1st XI shirt. This meant the coaching staff had to call upon players from the under 15’s who under the circumstances played to their abilities but did struggle with the pace and physicality of the game, but will certainly assist them to cope with this level for the 2017 season NPBHS were now in the bottom part of the pool, where we had a further eight games. We won 2, drew 2 and lost 4. Unfortunately, one of these losses was a default game against Waitara. Reflecting back over the season, we had an extremely young side, with the average age of 15 years. Mr. Pittams and Mr. Tindle were extremely proud of all the players in this team this year, taking into consideration the average age of the team and losing experienced players who made an impact within the 1st XI team. Every boy acquitted themselves very well, especially playing in a league that would test their strength, mental and physical abilities. There were some strong consistent performances from a number of the boys
2nd XI Football Team Row 3: Tremain McManus, Ben Lockett, Cameron Pettigrew Row 2: Mr Ado Tindle (Assistant Coach), Calum Evans, Zane Biesiek, George Bennett, Caleb Houghton, Qingfeng Du, Mr John Whittle (Director of Football), Mr Rod Pittams (Head Coach) Row 1: Sora Oshima, Pacey Healy, Gabe Te Aho, Harrison Taylor, Ross Malcolm, Kernow Phillips, Bon Northcott Absent Mr Alan Taylor (Manager)
and they were recognised at the season end prizegiving. Golden Boot - Tremain McManas Players Player - Pacey Healy MVP - Pacey Healy Coaches Player - Harrison Taylor Most Improved - Kernow Phillips The 2nd XI only had one interschool fixture and this was against Wellington College 2nd XI. The fixture was played at Wellington College on their artificial pitch which was a new experience for the majority of the boys. We started well and controlled the tempo of the game within the first 20 minutes. We were awarded a penalty in the 25th minute, but unfortunately we missed. This lifted Wellington College and they sprung into life and in the 31st minute they scored. What unfolded next was 3 more goals in the last 10 minutes of the half which saw Wellington College go into the break 4-0, which was not a true reflection of how we played within the first 30 minutes of the game.
played well and showed that playing other schools and age-group club teams is beneficial for the development of boys’ youth football. The future is very promising with some excellent younger boys coming through the football pathway of the school, but for these promising young talents to be playing in the Taranaki Men’s Division One, is certainly not the appropriate development and pathway for these boys!! Mr. Tindle and I thoroughly enjoyed working within the 1st & 2nd XI environment and I would like to thank Mr. Whittle for his support and expertise he passed onto the team and to Mr. Tindle and as coaches of the 2nd XI team. Mr Rod Pittams
Unfortunately, we conceded a further six goals in the second half and came away with a very disappointing 10-0 defeat. Mr. Pittams was fortunate enough in 2015 in taking a 2nd XI team to Gisborne for a mini tournament and last October 2015 to a tournament in Napier, where on each occasion the boys selected 49