The Wellington U16s travelled to a very wet Taranaki last month for the Lower North Island (LNI) U16 Regional Tournament, kicking off their campaign after a five-hour journey to the host in challenging conditions.

Their opening match against the host side, Taranaki, was a slow start, but the team soon found their rhythm. As the week progressed, they produced increasingly strong performances, taking on Hawke’s Bay, Whanganui, and Manawatū with confidence and growing cohesion.

A standout win against Manawatū secured Wellington a place in the final, setting up a rematch against the same opponent. The final was played in wet and testing conditions, and despite a valiant effort, the team narrowly missed out on the win.

Tournament Results:

Wellington vs Taranaki | 1-4 Loss

Wellington vs Hawkes Bay | 2-1 Win

Wellington vs Whanganui | 2-1 Win

Wellington vs Manawatū | 2-1 Win

Wellington vs Manawatū (Final) | 0-2 Loss

Wellington U16 Boys finished 2nd Place at the Lower North Island U16 Regional Tournament.

Dispite the final result, the team made the most of the testing weather and showed great resilience, unity, and team culture throughout the week. It was a memorable campaign filled with growth, determination, and quality hockey from a talented group of young players.