RBHS First XI show heart at Super 8 football tournament

SPIRITED: The Rotorua Boys' High School First XI football team showed "great heart" on their way to a seventh place finish at the Super 8 football tournament this week. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

"Show great heart."

That was the simple message Rotorua Boys' High School director of football Mark Trembath gave his First XI heading into the Super 8 football tournament in Hastings.

Speaking to him after the tournament, played from Monday to Wednesday this week, it quickly became clear he was immensely proud of the spirit his side played with on their way to a seventh place finish.

Going into the tournament as the only one of the eight teams that does not play in New Zealand's premier secondary schools competition, Rotorua Boys' knew they were up against it.

"They are all real high-class teams with really experienced coaching staff - most teams have between two and four coaches.

"We wanted to try and hold on to the ball and keep possession, stick to playing our style of football.

"I believe that football is 60 per cent skill and 40 per cent mental - it was about winning 50/50 ball, lifting their own mana and giving their absolute best.

"They were absolutely superb," Trembath said.

In pool play Rotorua Boys' lost 5-1 against Palmerston North Boys' High School, 7-0 against Tauranga Boys' High School and 2-0 against Gisborne Boys' High School.

They went into a seventh and eighth playoff game against hosts Hastings Boys' High School looking to attack.

They caught their opposition by surprise to score early on in the game and ended up getting a 2-1 win.

"The boys have never been happier - it was a pretty amazing feeling.

"In all honesty we looked the stronger team in that game."

Results aside, Trembath was extremely pleased with the attitude his side played with.

"We're the only team that didn't receive a yellow or red card during the tournament and every single team came up and congratulated us on our placing and the demeanour we played our games with."

For the local boys it was an opportunity for a close-up look at how the country's top sides play.

"We were definitely the youngest, it's such an elite tournament that most teams only take Year 13s.

"We were the only team that took Year 10 and Year 11 players.

"The key goal for us was to take a young squad and get them to cut their teeth - to experience high level football and have that under their belt for later.

"Overall it was a really well run tournament and the boys had a lot of fun."

Napier Boys' High School were the surprise winners of the tournament after beating Hamilton Boys' High School via penalty shootout in the final.