Awakeri Soccer Club... the Greatest Junior Soccer Club in New Zealand

June 3 2000

Good sportsmanship was an outstanding feature of Saturday’s play involving Awakeri’s soccer teams.

In the 13th grade, Sonya Pettinger and Rebecca Geddes volunteered to play for their Whakatane One opponents to make their numbers up. They also played very well and helped Whakatane secure a 1 - 1 draw against Awakeri Store Strikers. Strikers dominated the first half, going ahead when the speedy Carrington Brown ran down the left and squared the ball across. Matthew Gwynne finished the move with a good goal. Brown, a little later hit the post with a good shot. His brother, Harrison Brown, followed suit, winning the ball in the midfield, making a good run before sending an attempt just wide of the goal. In the second half, Whakatane played a lot better and it was an even affair. With ten minutes to go Whakatane equalised to earn the draw. Harrison Brown was named player-of-the-match after a skilful determined display. Others to do well were defenders Matthew Barr and Jeremy Hawkes, and all rounder Liam Fitzgerald.

Quite a few players from the 6th grade Awakeri Draintech Diggers had turns at helping out their Opotiki opposition too, in fact Jordan Steer even scored a goal for them! It was a good entertaining game that ended with Opotiki winning 4 - 1. Riki Roia was Diggers’ player-of-the-match, he had a good number of attempts at goal, but couldn’t get past Opotiki’s excellent goalkeeper. Logan Munro scored the goal for Awakeri.

In the 7th grade, Peter Clarke Ltd Awakeri showed they are making good progress in their soccer skills. They were leading 2 - 0 at half time against Allandale Wasps, but couldn’t keep the Wasps out later in the game, going down 4 - 2. Matthew Richmond was player-of-the-match, playing very well out on the field and in goal. Maddison Constantine and David Ernest scored the goals for Awakeri, and Kelly Hughes worked hard.

Sheather thoroughly deserves ice-cream (and player of the Day Trophy)

The 8th Grade Awakeri Magic team were a little hesitant in the first half in their match with Allandale and deserved to be a goal down at halftime. In the second half, they followed their coaches suggestion and tackled, and started to pass the ball. This led to two goals. The first to Vincent Sheather who dribbled through half the opposition to score. The second to Stephen Law, after some excellent passing .Others to play well on the day were Matthew Reeves and Finn Kamphorst. Allandale scored in the last few minutes making the score 2 all .Vincent Sheather enjoyed his ice-cream (courtesy of the Awakeri Store), after being named player of the day.

Adamson’s Amcal Pharmacy Awakeri Athletic had an excellent game with Kawerau in the 11th grade B division, the game ending scoreless. Player-of-the-match Simon Barr is developing into a top notch centre back. He and his partner Jordan Macdonald combined well to shut the opposition out well. Adam Rutland had a good game, both in goal and on the field. Christine Scott and Katie Collins continue to improve with every outing and are getting well involved in the play. Sytse Tacoma played his best game of the season, running himself to a standstill.

In the 11th grade A division, Kawerau were too quick and classy for Gould Contracting Awakeri Hotshots, winning the game 4 - 0. Classy defender Michael Etter earned player-of-the-match for Hotshots, and Melanie Hancox, who is showing a lot of potential, gave a gutsy display in the midfield.