United U19s refused entry to tournament

Wairarapa United are "hugely disappointed" their entry into the national under-19 inter-club men's soccer tournament at Napier over Labour weekend has been turned down.
Organisers Napier City Rovers were inundated with clubs wanting to participate in the event, so many, in fact, that some had to be eliminated.
But with their entry fee of $750 already banked Wairarapa United were confident enough about their place in the final line-up to take out a deposit on motel accommodation.
Then come the news that because of the poor showing by the Wairarapa team entered in the same tournament last year they were amongst those sides to miss the cut.
It was a decision which came as a shock to Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley, who was quick to inform the organisers that his side were unbeaten in their section of this season's Ivan England Trophy competition, which is contested by clubs in the greater Wellington region.
Unfortunately, however, that held little sway with Keinzley being told the fact the Wairarapa side did not win a game at the nationals the previous year was the deciding factor in them being overlooked.
Keinzley himself was not involved with that team and he believes the form of the current side should have been given greater credence.
"It's hugely disappointing for everyone, management and the players," he said. "We've been working very hard with the idea of making a good showing there and to have that taken away from us is a big blow," he said.
Keinzley is adamant a number of his present squad have the capabilities to push strongly for places in national age group teams and that the Napier tournament would have provided an ideal opportunity for them to strut their stuff.
"All the national selectors will be there & as a player from the smaller centres you don't get too many chances like that," he said.
Keinzley said the potential of the present Wairarapa United under-19s was illustrated by their 3-2 win at Carterton last Sunday over a highly-regarded Porirua City combination who, by the way, have also had their entry to the nationals turned down.
The victory guaranteed Wairarapa United would win the B section of the Ivan England Trophy competition despite them having two matches to play.
And it also guaranteed they would be involved in a promotion-relegation match with the bottom team in the A section in about three weeks time.
Keinzley concedes that with his team going into the Porirua City match without one of their star players in Anton Ross, and several others battling the effects of having played at secondary schoolboy tournaments over the previous five days, he would not have been surprised had they struggled to produce anything like their best form.
But goals to Ryan Athow and Yuseke Maeno gave them a 2-0 buffer at halftime and while Porirua City fought back well in the second spell a third goal to Hadley Henderson ensured Wairarapa United kept their noses in front.
At the centre of a Wairarapa United midfield which played well all game was Aaron Spierling while Jackie Chan excelled in goal. The impact made by Andrew Traill when he came off the bench in the second half was also impressive.