Kerikeri retained the Under-10 Northland Cup after beating Maunu in an extended penalty shootout on Saturday at Tikipunga Park. After the two teams were tied together 1-1 at fulltime in the final, it took more than a dozen penalties for each side until Kerikeri finally became champions - adding to theexcitement and tension of a thrilling final. It was fitting that the two teams had made the main final after Auckland teams dominated the other age-groups of the primary school competition. Forrest Hill-Milford beat Albany 1-0 to win the U11 contest while Greenhithe won the U9 competition, beating Manurewa 3-0 in the final. "To be fair the Auckland teams generally dominate and for two Northland teams, Kerikeri and Maunu, to make it through to the final of the 10th grade, it's pretty huge," competition organiser Adam Hayne said. "When you're talking about teams like Dargaville and Kaitaia, they don't always win a lot of games but they love turning up to these tournaments because they get to see what the level of football is going on in Auckland." The competition has grown in popularity since it started four years ago. Just seven teams played in the maiden contest, which now boasts a field of 36 teams and this year organisers had to turn some teams away.
