Football: Defending champs Napier Boys' book semifinal

Napier Boys' High School celebrate their Super 8 football title win last year. Photo / File

Defending champions Napier Boys' High School were unbeaten after yesterday's first day of play at the Super 8 football tournament in Hamilton.

The Marty Akers-coached side will take on the other unbeaten side in their section, Palmerston North Boys' High School, this morning. Regardless of the outcome of this clash Akers troops will play in this afternoon's semifinals.

Centre midfielder Brock Gunson scored two goals when Napier opened their campaign with a 5-0 win against Hastings Boys' High School. Fellow midfielders Baylee Foote and Maximo Simcox and centre back and vice captain Joel Restieaux scored the other goals.

Gunson was the best of the Napier players against a Hastings outfit which was guilty of making naive defensive errors according to coach Grant Hastings. Target striker Jack Parker, and captain and midfielder Aidan Robson, were the pick of the Hastings players.

Striker Harry Mason scored two goals for Napier during their 3-0 win against New Plymouth Boys' High School. Left winger Liam Percy-Fysh scored the other.

Right back Sam Murphy and centre midfielder Luis Toomey had strong games for Napier in this match. Napier led 2-0 at halftime in both of their games.

Poor defensive play again proved to be Hastings' downfall when beaten 5-0 by Palmerston North Boys' High School.

"We're passing the ball well but inexperience at the back is letting us down," Hastings said.

Forward Alexander Eaglestone, one of three Year 10 players in the team, shone with his workrate against Palmerston North. The Palmerston team is equal with Napier on points and goal differential.

Napier manager Grant Bundle was disappointed with the standard of the heavy pitch used for the match against Hastings. He is expecting national champions Hamilton Boys' High School and Tauranga Boys College to emerge as the semifinalists from the other section.

Hastings Boys' High School finished eighth at this tournament in 2017 and '16 and will need to display vast improvement to avoid a three-peat of last placings.