Mangapapa Hurricanes win the Gisborne interschool primary tournament open division

The Mangapapa Hurricanes team who won the open division of the tournament, standing (from left): Kauri Holmes, Hugo Iodewya, Nathaniel Fearnley, Phoenix Crosby and Anton Larkins. Kneeling: Connor Evison and Jacob Adams. Front: Matt Hills. Picture supplied

Mangapapa Hurricanes followed up their A-Grade primary school football league title with victory in the Gisborne interschool primary tournament open division this week.

The Chris Adams-coached side beat Wainui Thunder 2-1 in a penalty shoot-out in the final after neither side could find the net in normal time.

Mangapapa beat Te Hapara 5-0 in the semifinals, while Wainui defeated Makauri.

The Hurricanes, on top of their individual talent, share a strong team bond, having played as a team since Year 4.

They were unbeaten in the A-Grade league, winning nine games and drawing one.

They scored 84 goals and conceded nine in finishing seven points ahead of runners-up Makauri Marauders.

They are looking to make it a trophy treble in the A-Grade Cup.

A girls-only division was also run. Te Hapara Kahurangi beat Makauri Haze in the girls’ final.

In all, 320 players took part. They came from 13 primary schools — Mangapapa, Wainui, Kaiti, Te Wharau, Te Hapara, Makauri, Sonrise Christian, St Mary’s Catholic, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Uri a Maui, Matawai, Awapuni, Patutahi and Ormond.

Some schools had two teams in each division.

The tournament was run by Central Football, Makauri School and Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti.