During AIMS the NH Winning Y8 Boys and Y8 Girls Futsal teams got the news that they were invited to compete in the Auckland Champs. Whilst this meant that the teams had no time to prepare and train for the comp (both teams not having played a Futsal game since Term 1) it was an exciting opportunity to play more Futsal.
Our NH Champion Boys Futsal Team consisted of players from our AIMS Football team who had achieved an admirable 3rd place in the NZ Games. Making the adjustment to the smaller 3 size ball and fast paced indoor court game did not phase the boys who were dominant in their pool games, combining well both on attack and in defense to overcome opposition who had more futsal experience.
Riding on a high from the AIMS Football victory confidence was high heading into our first game against Remuera Int. Sachi added to this confidence with an exquisite opening goal in the game when she curled a shot into the far top corner from half way. This gave us a real stronghold in the game and we built on this to keep us ahead throughout the game eventually winning 4-2 thanks to a late brace from Eliza. Game two saw us come up with a comfortable 8-0 victory against ELIM school and left us top of the pool and into the Semi-finals. Our opponent in the Semi was St Kents with many of girls facing their opposite from the Football AIMS Games final. NX made hard work of this game! Whilst we were never behind we were constantly made to pay for any minor error. However, the girls fought resolutely and Sachi proved to be the telling difference scoring all four goals in a narrow 4-3 victory. The final saw a repeat of our first fixture versus Remuera Intermediate. Unfortunately for us, Remuera displayed their more clinical side and highlighted their more recent Futsal experience (they finished 3rd in AIMS for futsal) taking the final away from us and displaying resolute defending. That left us as winners of 2nd place in Auckland and our best Futsal placing to date. Congratulations girls are another excellent display of Futsal!
