Beaten in the rain but not outclassed

It was great to see so many parents supporting on a cold, wet and windy (some might say typical) Elsdon day. The game started brightly and it was good having Nick back in the midfield. Finn and Bunsi tackled hard and we began to get some possession. We struggled to really take control and the game was evenly balanced for the first quarter. Rayhan making his first start made several excellent clearances including one diving tackle with his stick at the top of the circle. Too often we tried to pass or run through people and a number of times took the wrong option moving forward. We won three PCs. The first one just ran past Riley's stick on the post and we missed the stick stop on the second. On the third one we used option one of our variations to good effect and Nick combined well with Jamie for Jamie to score. This was pretty near the end of the first half but I felt that we deserved to be ahead at half time.

At half time we spoke about the need to get our wings moving higher and wider, to be harder on the ball and in the tackle and to not give them space up front. Both sides had chances in the second half and some of their stick tackling should have been pulled up much more than it was. They won five or 6 PCs which we successfully defended with Nick in particular making some great tackles at first runner. The defence tackled well but we need to be stronger in claiming the ball and making a good quick pass to keep possession. Our marking also let us down and we were guilty of ball watching and leaving their forwards with too much space in the circle. They had a sustained spell of pressure and should have had one penalty stroke if not two. They scored at the far post to equalise with about ten minutes to go.

We had some promising breaks but lacked penetration and too often we tried to pass or run through them rather than making good runs to help the ball carrier. Ethan made a couple of great runs to get high on the left but overall we did not make many chances and did not win a PC in the second half. Ethan had our best shot which the keeper saved well. Shortly after that they broke through to score what turned out to be the winning goal.

This was a game we could have won and did enough to draw but over the course of the two halves they probably deserved the points. Although we suffered out first loss we were by no means outclassed.

As we predicted they were well organised and had good basic skills but we can certainly beat this team if we play them again. I was impressed by the way that we kept fighting till the end and kept our heads in the face of some provocation! The attitude of the guys who spent more time than usual on the bench today was also exemplary. We are a 14 player squad and it is going to take us all pitching in through the year for us to achieve our potential. We are still very much in contention and I believe that we have the makings of an excellent team. There is no doubt that you have the ability to have success this season and for us all to improve with each game.

Players of the day were Finn for covering miles of ground and leading by example and Raj for some great tackling and passing.

Result: Aotea College 1st XI 2 Wellington College Under 15A 1

Look forward to seeing you at NHS for training on Monday. We will work on our sharpness, our shape and yes ... our basics! Let's learn from today and make sure it is our last loss for a while.

A gutsy performance.

We ground out an excellent result against Onslow College 1st XI in a gutsy team performance. The added pace and power of their players put us under pressure from the start and we made too many unforced errors in long sections of the game. We cannot afford to take a split second too long to tackle, trap, pass and shoot. It was pleasing to see everyone working hard and giving good effort. They penetrated our circle several times and there was some last ditch tackling to keep our goal intact. When we got our passing game working at pace we looked really good going forward. Jamie hit the inside of the post having done everything right. At the other end Tom made an excellent save and clear with his left pad. Jacob picked the ball up and slipped an excellent pass square to Finn who found Jamie with a straight pass into the circle and Jamie slotted the ball to put us one nil up at half time.

At half time we spoke about needing to get more pace on our passing, going to meet the ball and tightening up on our marking. Our defence improved in the second half but we still need to take responsibility and work on our marking. Bunsi, Jayson, Rupert and Raj are improving as a unit and it is good to see communication improving. The midfield worked hard all game but we gave the ball away too often and need to work on our vision and decision making. Onslow were well organised in defence and we tried to pass through them rather than around them and were not giving the ball carrier enough help. Jamie finished off another good passing move when we had won a PC but the umpire played good advantage and we capitalised.

Onslow were awarded a PC after some sloppy play from us in not clearing from the danger zone in front of our circle. They converted to make it 2-1. We will work on our angles of running on Monday and can improve our PC defence to put their striker under pressure but it was a powerful and well directed shot. Finn found Ethan with a superb clearance and Ethan controlled the ball to sprint down the left and take the ball round their keeper. It was particularly good to see Ethan getting his feet round quickly to hit a forehand shot into the goal from the left. Rayhan made some excellent clearances and was quickly off his line to close down shooting chances on several occasions. One time he dived and got to his feet rally quickly to clear the second phase. At the other end we had a couple of other opportunities to score and Riley and Jack both got into some good positions. Onslow won another PC against the run of play and used exactly the same routine to score a second. This was virtually the last play of the game.


It was very encouraging to see the team keeping going right to the final whistle. This was not the prettiest performance but it was brave and you kept working hard for each other. These are the kind of games that define seasons and we all saw how it comes down to a matter of inches. We can improve from here. It was great seeing Nick back on the sidelines and we look forward to his return. Players of the day were Jacob and Ed for some great work in mid-field. Well done on a great result. Let's keep this run going!

Result Wellington College U15A 3 Onslow College 1st XI 2

Good team performance

We approached the game against Wellington High School knowing that they had beaten us last season but wanting to record our first win in the league. We knew that we would miss Nick (who has apparently swapped his appendix for an X Box - don't anyone else get that idea please!) but were confident that Shak could step into centre midfield. We started the game with good shape and tempo and began to exert some control. Riley made some great runs forward and Jack tackled and passed very well on the left. We got into their circle many times but struggled to make clear cut chances. We needed to get the ball down our right more. We also gave their forwards too much space and Tom had to save us on a couple of occasions when they hit us on the break.


The forwards started to link better with the midfield and Jamie had some good runs in the centre with Ethan, Jacob and Riley providing better width. This resulted in Ethan scoring a well worked goal following good work from Finn and Jamie. Our first penalty corner was well saved but at the second Bunsi followed up and slammed a great shot into the corner to send us in 2-0 up at half time.


In the second half they played deeper and Raj, Jayson and Rupert were alert to keeping their wings under control. Shak and Ed got some good passing going and we began to make more and more chances. Jacob, Riley, Finn, Jamie, Ed and Ethan all came close and they resorted to increasingly negative tactics. Jamie scored our third after a strong run through the inside right channel and Ethan hit a great shot from the left in second phase from a PC. We lost a bit of width in the last ten minutes and began to look a little tired. This is going to be a tight league and we can do very well in it but a lot is going to come down to those last ten minutes. We also need to anticipate more and ball watch less.

It was a great team performance, I particularly liked the way that Bunsi, Finn and Shak worked together in the middle and Ed, Jack and Jamie were all noticably up a notch from the previous week. Tom and the defence cleared the danger well and we had some fantastic passing movements going forward. I also liked seeing some better "leading" after Monday traning. Players of the day were Jamie and Jack.

Result: Wellington College U15A 4 Wellington High School 1stXI 0

Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

Our first league game was a hard fought battle with Raphael House. The first half swung back and forth with few clear cut chances as both teams tackled in mid field but struggled to get the ball moving forward. It was frustrating that we tended to take too many touches and tended to dribble rather than PASS.

Buncey made some excellent tackles and Nick and Finn worked hard to contain the hard working and skillful Denzel who had a great game for Raphael. Our marking was slack and our communication has room for improvement. When we were able to get our passing game working we made some chances and Nick scored an excellent goal to give us the lead at half time.

In the second half we switched Raj and Jayson which helped contain their attacks down the wings but we need to watch out that we do not get caught square at the back. Our back three need to play as a unit and move as one not get caught watching the ball.

The first 20 minutes of the second half we stepped up a gear and they did well to keep out a penalty corner. We finally got some hard, accurate passing going and put Jamie in one on one with their keeper to knock in our second goal of the game.

The last five minutes we self destructed and gave the ball away time and time again. Our decision making was poor and we started to lose our shape. Definitely scope to work on our fitness. We missed a chance to kill the game by going three up and the last few minutes was all Raphael. Tom made some fine saves to keep us in the game but we conceded a goal with three minutes to play and then allowed them to break away and equalise with 20 seconds left on the clock.

Overall it was probably a fair result given the balance of the play but it was disappointing to draw having done all the hard work. The game was played in great spirit and raphael showed the importance of keeping going to the final whistle. There were many positives that we can build on for the season and it is good to have our first points on the board.

Result: Raphael House 2 Wellington College U15A 2.

Players of the match were Ed for some great positional play and distribution and Buncey for some excellent tackling and clearing. We hope Rayhan is recovering and look forward to Shak being back from injury for next weeks game against Wellington High at 4.00 pm at NHS. And try and keep your fingers out of doors!

Well done guys and see you on Monday for training at school turf at 3.45-5.00.