Courtesy: Otago Daily Times


Logan Park humbles Brazilian futsal team

The LPHS boys' futsal teams had an exciting start to the term with the opportunity to play a Brazilian secondary school team at the end of its South Island tour.

What flair these boys had. With wonderful footwork, they beat the year 11 boys soundly 8-2, despite the home side's valiant play.

The second game against the year 12-13 boys' team was a different story, with the physical strength and developed futsal skills of the Logan Park boys challenging the classy Brazilians.

Caley Watson was athletic in goal, with Logan Park's own Brazilian import, Felipi Sarabia, together with Michael Still and Billy Pullar, matching their opponents.

The close, entertaining and hard-fought match ended in a win for Logan Park High, 4-2. It was the first loss on tour for the Brazilians from Colegio Jesu, near Brasilia.

Girls' junior and intermediate futsal at Logan Park is on a roll. Two teams competed in the junior girls Dunedin schools term 1 competition, with the year 10-11 team finishing the summer season by retaining the junior girls league title. The runner-up was the year 9 team.

The final was a real thriller, with the year 9 side determined to win. At full-time, the scores were level and the penalty shoot-out went into a second round, before year 10 goalie Gretel Mitchell scored the deciding shot.

Both LPHS girls' teams also won their age group titles in the regional competition recently played in Dunedin, securing them a place in the champion of champions futsal school titles in Dunedin on Queens Birthday weekend.


OBHS futsal success

In the last week of March, Otago Boys High School played in Otago secondary schools futsal championships.

Six teams represented the school - two in each of the three boys' grades 14, 16 and 19 boys. OBHS all but pulled off a clean sweep, with five of the teams winning through to their respective finals.

The Gold team was top qualifier in the 16s boys, but after the injury of tournament stand-out Sam Macaulay, it lost its final to OBHS Blue.

In the 19 boys' grade, the Blue team set the standard. Its toughest game in pool play was a 4-2 win against Logan Park HS. Playing against the OBHS Gold team in the final, it ran out champion with a 3-1 win.

OBHS Gold played well and was supported by some outstanding goalkeeping from year 10 student Tom Stevens. The Blue team, however, was full of representative players and had too much class in the end.

The 14 boys' competition was played across two pools due to the large number of entries. While the Gold team struggled in its pool, winning only one game, the Blues dominated their pool.

They were undefeated at the tournament, their only blemish a 2-all draw against a touring Australian representative team.

In the semifinal, they played against Bayfield HS and won, 4-2. The Blues beat DNI in the final, with Joel Stevens and Nic Vinicombe standing out.







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com