Lower Hutt City and Hamilton Wanderers have emerged triumphant over their counterparts from all over the country after winning the men’s and women’s competitions respectively at the 2019 Western Springs AFC U-17 Tournament.

Many of the best young players in New Zealand converged on Seddon Fields in Auckland over the weekend for the hugely-popular annual event, which was run by the Western Springs club as a one-off on this occasion while usual organisers the Youth Football Development Trust stepped back to explore the possibility of a new and expanded format in 2020.

The change of administration had little effect of the popularity of the three action-packed days of football and fun with 24 teams entering the male event and a further 12 signing up for the female competition.

Few would argue Lower Hutt were not worthy of claiming the men’s honours after going through pool play unbeaten and then edging out a determined Birkenhead United in the final.

Made up of players from the Wellington Phoenix Academy, Lower Hutt were the only side not to be defeated across the men’s tournament and finished the job with a 1-0 win over Birkenhead, the deciding goal being supplied by a long-range screamer from Raphael Le’ai to underline his status as one of the players of the tournament.

The Solomon Islands striker notched four goals and was joined on that tally by team mate Oskar van Hattum but the top scorer for Lower Hutt was Blake Driehuis, who found the net six times.

The play-off for third place was won by FC Twenty 11, who eventually triumphed 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Eastern Suburbs.

In the other trophies on offer, Hamilton Wanderers claimed the Bowl with a 3-1 win over Ellerslie in the final while Ferrymead Bays took out the Plate by beating Cashmere Technical 3-1.
 

                                            Hamilton Wanderers celebrate winning the women's competition

In the women’s competition, Hamilton Wanderers did not have as smooth a path to the title as Lower Hutt, finishing second in their pool behind eventual runners-up Three Kings United. They lost 1-0 to those opponents in their first match of the tournament but got their revenge in the final with a 2-1 win.

Chloe Henderson was the heroine with a brace while captain Sophie Thompson gave Three Kings hope with a late goal but it wasn’t enough to prevent Hamilton lifting the trophy.

Match-winner Henderson finished on three goals for the tournament, as did Grace Wisnewski and Rachel Major for Hamilton.

The play-off for third was a tight affair with Cashmere Technical and Forrest Hill Milford United unable to be separated in a scoreless stalemate before the latter went on to triumph 5-4 on penalties.

In the Bowl competition, Eastern Suburbs claimed the honours with a 4-0 victory over Ellerslie in the final while Norwest United earned the Plate after pipping Waterside Karori 1-0.

For more information and all results from the Western Springs AFC U-17 Tournament please click here

Article added: Monday 18 March 2019