Awakeri Soccer Club... the Greatest Junior Soccer Club in New Zealand
July 28th 2001
The highlight of Awakeris soccer games on Saturday was the effort of
7th grade Drain Tech
Awakeri Diggers. Because of calving, the numbers of both the Diggers and Edgecumbe
teams
were reduced and they ended up playing two 3 a-side games. Through very good
team work,
Diggers made sure all their team members scored goals. Logan Munro was
named player of the
day. It was good to see Ryan McIntyre (2), Rhys Cram (2), Sam Schuler (2) and
Logan Munro (3) scoring
goals, as well as the regulars - Riki Roia (10!) and Gareth Rowlands (4).
It was a hard morning for Gould Contracting Awakeri Hotshots. They had a very
tight game
against United and then played Opotiki Hurricanes later on in a catch-up game.
Hotshots
defended hard against United, with some good counter attacks. Hotshots took
the lead when
Matthew Ward was fed a good pass and he blasted the ball over the United keeper.
Later in the
game United evened things up and then grabbed a win with a penalty, which was
initially saved
by keeper Cody Hancox but was retaken successfully. United 2, Hotshots 1. Player
of the match
was striker Ian Sisam, who linked well with the midfield and used the
ball well. Against
Hurricanes, again the game was closely contested. Hurricanes scored first, then
Hotshots
equalised. Sisam had two good shots which rebounded back before Ward was in
the right place
to put the ball into the net. Opotikis fitness probably saw them through
in the end with two
second half goals to win 3 - 1. Melanie Hancox was player of the match. Her
tough tackling was
useful in the midfield.
As indicated by the score, Adamsons Pharmacy Awakeri Athletic had an extremely
even game
with Opotiki Stingrays in the 11th grade A division. No goals were scored, with
both teams only
managing a couple of chances against some tight defence. Mark Ernest had
a top game, with
some good off the ball running to be named player of the match. Jonathan Whitaker
also shone
with his efforts in goal and on the field. Opotiki 0, Athletic 0.
In the 11th grade C division, David da Silva Awakeri Autos had a good game against
Kawerau.
Keeper Bradley Turner earned player of the match with two excellent saves.
Meanwhile, Russell
Sisam (2) and James Wilson scored for Autos to gain a 3 - 0 win.
Total Power Services Awakeri Rangers had an awesome game with Paroa 9th grade
at Awakeri.
Play was up and down the field with Awakeri players at last starting to pass
to team mates in
space and talking to each other. Paroa came close on a number of occasions but
Joseph
Newdick defended the goal well. Awakeri came away the winners 1 - nil with a
goal scored by
Mitchell Warne in the first half. Everyone in the team played well, with player
of the match going
to Brechtsje Tacoma for a tireless game up front.
Also in the 9th grade, Private Asset Management Awakeri Aces turned on a total
team effort to
win 5 - 0 against James Street Two. Player of the match Jade Cossey had
a good all round
game, scoring twice, then doing well in defence in the second half. The whole
Aces squad were
there, and all contributed well.
Awakeri Blue Stingers played Allandale in the 7th grade. They narrowly lost
both their small
sided games, 2 - 1 and 3 - 2. Sydney Jones was in good form and was named
player of the
match. Keanu Carter did well to have lots of shots at goal and went close a
number of times.
In the 6th grade, Awakeri Rockets had a hard game against James Street, but
enjoyed
themselves nevertheless. Jordan Steers played very well to earn the player
of the match award.
He also scored an excellent goal after running the length of the field. Tyler
Mansell and Robert
Law also played well. James Street won the game 5 - 1.
Alfresco Court Motel Awakeri Tigers had two even games with Ohope. Ohope kindly
lent them
two players to make up the numbers. Jaime Clarke had been sick earlier
in the week, but she ran
with energy and controlled the ball well, to be named player of the day. Te
Naawe Tupe put in a
solid effort in his game, while Liam Richards showed his soccer sense, getting
into position well.