It was a repeat of last year's main draw final but today it was the turn of Western Springs to claim the bragging rights to youth football supremacy in Napier.
It was the victorious coach Neil Emblen's time to clap a favourable 2-1 result and Birkenhead United coach Paul Hobson to reminisce, after 73 minutes of unadulterated display of talent in the final of the Lotto Under-19 Youth Tournament.
Even the most parochial fans would have felt it was cruel for any side to lose, such was the intensity and level of entertainment at Bluewater Stadium, Park Island, on a balmy spring day as Birkenhead reflkected the spirit of the event in according Western Springs a guard of honour from the field.
For a despondent Birkenhead coach, Paul Hobson, the historic fairytale tourney treble proved to be elusive.
It was Western Springs who drew first blood in the sixth minute through a deft shot from pint-sized striker Oscar Browne which curled past a diving Birkenhead goalkeeper, Jack McQuoid, to thud into the back of the next.
That stung the defending champions into action with midfielder Dan Edwards making their intentions clear just two minutes later when he rifled in a shot from acute angle past goalkeeper Elliott Munford to make it 1-1 for a scoreline that remained into halftime.