A mid-week traditional fixture saw the PlaceMakers PNBHS 1st XI travel to Wellington College as part of a larger school exchange. With the Steve Burnley Memorial Cup to play for, PNBHS hoped to see the trophy return to their cabinet for a fourth consecutive year. Wellington College, however, were the better team on the day, winning the fixture 7-1.
From the kick-off, PNBHS were on the back foot with Wellington pressing high and aggressively, making a play from the back difficult to construct. Once PNBHS made ground, Wellington’s long ball tactic over the top and in behind the PNBHS defence, left the Wellington speedsters a foot race with the retreating PNBHS players. Two quick goals within the first six minutes coming from this setup established the tone for the remainder of the match. In a hasty transition, PNBHS managed to claw one back, coming from an Alex Kilkelly through-ball, leaving Jaiden Meyer with the ball at his feet, driving towards the goal and successfully converting. Wellington replied soon after with another goal of their own to re-establish a comfortable lead.
The second half saw much of the same: Wellington College pressed high, PNBHS made costly passing errors and the score against PNBHS climbed. Although it is never the plan to be on the end of a drumming, important lessons can be learned. Weeks out from the NZSS Football Tournament, reviewing footage of today’s game will provide PNBHS 1st XI players and management the opportunity to build and strengthen the weaker areas that were exposed today.
Thank you to our 1st XI Football Sponsors
Link to all photos https://drive.google.com/.../1r5XSMjhi4IP4fqnBH5xadhEi5eq...