Tauranga City finish runners-up in Youth National League
The club came close to being crowned the best young boy's team in the country.
Tauranga City AFC came painfully close to winning the New Zealand Football Boy’s Youth National League over the weekend.
However, the club will be over the moon with the achievement of reaching the final, where they narrowly lost out to Auckland United.
Tauranga booked their place in the final after 3-0 and 2-1 wins over the Wellington Phoenix Academy and Cashmere Technical respectively at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport.
That booked them a spot in the final against Auckland United on Sunday, where they took an early lead through Thomas Page.
However, Auckland United came out fighting in the second-half, substitute Victor Barbosa scoring twice to make the score 2-1 just after the hour mark.
However, Tauranga captain Henry Kemp pulled the teams level again on the 66th minute, heading in from a corner.
Despite this fightback, Auckland United were soon in the lead again, Ishveer Singh-Dhillon scoring what proved to be the winner to earn Auckland the inaugural title.
The boy’s Youth National League was launched this season as a competition for players under 17, mirroring the men’s National League. Teams competed in three regional leagues (Northern League, Central League and Southern League) with the top sides qualifying for the Youth National League finals held this past weekend.
Tauranga City AFC squad for the NZF Boy’s Youth National League Finals:
Ben Richardson, Kyan Cundy, Henry Kemp, Tanner Dean, Forbes Hellyer, Tay Ririnui, Max Stringer, Joby Reid, Lucas Loveridge, Braetyn Allan, Tristan Kawana, Zach Bryant, Reed Tong, Arlo Cullwick, Max Barnett, Jake Bell, Thomas Page and Jax Martin.
Coaching Team: Barry Gardiner, Maia Ririnui and Nic Millichip.