Rotorua Intermediate futsal team secure AIMS Games gold

CHAMPIONS: The Rotorua Intermediate futsal team finished first at the AIMS Games. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

After finishing second at the AIMS Games last year, the Rotorua Intermediate futsal team has gone one better in 2017 and claimed gold.

Rotorua Intermediate were ruthless in pool play at the tournament, held at Mount Maunganui's ASB Baypark Arena last week, sweeping aside Pinehurst School, Helensville School, Marian Catholic School and Aquinas College with ease.

The highlight of pool play was their 21-0 win over Bay of Plenty rivals Aquinas College, the highest winning margin of the tournament.

Having finished top of their pool they took on Reremoana School in the round of 16 and won 5-1. They beat St Helliers School 9-2 in their quarter-final and Redoubt North School 5-2 in the semis.

The last hurdle was the final against Mount Maunganui Intermediate, a chance for redemption for the Rotorua Intermediate side after losing last year's final.

They started well and took an early 2-0 lead. A Mount Maunganui goal with about five minutes left to play made it a nervous finish but Rotorua held on for the win. They finished the tournament with 69 goals scored and 11 conceded.

Co-captain Bronson Anderson, 13, said his team defended well in the final after they had scored their goals.

"I was really nervous, they actually scored a second goal but it didn't count because it was from a kick-in and another player has to touch the ball before it goes in the goal.

"It felt good to win after getting second last year," Bronson said.

He said the team's strength was their shooting and being able to score goals from the opportunities they created.

"After probably the first or second day we felt confident. We played an entirely different game [compared to last year], how we set up and our formation."

Coach Jordyn Ewert said the boys were "super organised and really composed".

"They didn't crumble under pressure and they kept calm, especially in the final. They actually made it really easy for me because these two [captains Bronson and Charlie Apperly] ran the warm-ups and organised the team.

"We travelled each day, which was quite hard on them with some early starts and late finishes, but they dealt with that well. They were really focused - they're all passionate kids and pretty skilled," Ewert said.

She said the whole tournament was "very professional".

"They had national scouts walking around and there were a couple of nights they had the New Zealand men's team play. These guys were the flag bearers for that, that was another bonus.

"It was definitely a cool experience for them," she said.

John Paul College BMX rider Megan Williams also enjoyed success at the AIMS Games, finishing first in the Year 8 girls' individual time trial and second in the individual moto. Her results helped John Paul College finish second overall in the BMX.

Rotorua Intermediate futsal team at the AIMS Games
Pool play:
Beat Aquinas College 21-0
Beat Pinehurst School 11-0
Beat Helensville School 9-2
Beat Marian Catholic School 7-3
Knockout stage:
Beat Reremoana School 5-1 in the round of 16
Beat St Helliers School 9-2 in the quarter-finals
Beat Redoubt North School 5-2 in the semifinals
Beat Mount Maunganui Intermediate 2-1 in the final