Under-13s flying the flag for their region

HOCKEY FLAGBEARERS: The Poverty Bay under-13 boys' hockey team have been taking part in the Lower North Island Hockey Festival in Napier this week. Coach BJ Seymour says the festival is good experience for the players, and he has seen the skill level of players in this age-group improve as they progress through their representative programmes. The Poverty Bay u13 team members are, back (from left): Marshall Boyd, Dougie Wilcox-Taylor, Josh Levy, Bjorn Raroa-Haraki, Riley Knight, Luke Weston-Arnold, Max Gaddum and coach BJ Seymour. Front: Josh Leighton, Oscar Hayward and Corbyn Seymour. Picture supplied

While many sports teams have had the disappointment of their annual tournaments being postponed, the Poverty Bay under-13 boys' hockey team have been given the go-ahead to compete in the 2021 Lower North Island Hockey Festival.

With no other age-group representative hockey teams from Poverty Bay Hockey taking part in tournaments, the u13 boys are the flagbearers for the region.

The tournament, being held in Napier, will be good experience for the players and give them a level of competition higher than they are used to in local hockey, says coach BJ Seymour.

He has seen the skill level of players in this age-group get better and better as they progress through their representative programmes.

Seymour says Poverty Bay's key players will have to draw on all of their experience if they want to be successful.

“I am expecting a big tournament from captain Bjorn-Haraki, (as well as) Marshall Boyd and Corbyn Seymour,” Seymour said.

“These three boys are very experienced players and have been involved in a lot of big games outside the Tairawhiti region.”

Seymour also wanted to thank Holly Leighton for working tirelessly as team manager, and helping to get the squad up and running.

The team have their first game of the tournament against Horowhenua tomorrow, and are hoping to be in the running come finals day on Wednesday.