Many of the country’s top youth players head for Napier this weekend to contest the national U-19s tournaments for men’s and women’s club teams.
After disruption to the past two tournaments due to COVID, the Napier City Rovers-hosted tournament will have 72 club sides ready for action when games begin on Saturday morning.
The event will be run in three parts — a main tournament for men, a satellite competition for men and a 24-team tournament for women.
Teams are travelling to Napier from as far north as the Northland FC team, to the South Island where teams are coming from Marlborough and Canterbury.
Birkenhead United go to the tournament keen to preserve the best record of any club since 2010. Since then, they have appeared in nine men’s finals, winning five of them. They didn’t attend last year because of COVID restrictions.
Main photo: The victorious Birkenhead United U-19s who won the 2020 tournament, beating Tauranga City 3-0 in the final. Photo: Birkenhead United.
Men’s Main Tournament
Group games to be played on Saturday October 22, 2022
Group A
Birkenhead United, Bucklands Beach, Cashmere Technical, Napier City Rovers, Petone, Upper Hutt.
Group B
Bay Olympic, Hamilton Wanderers, Northern Rovers, Stop Out, Tauranga City, Wellington Olympic.
Group C
Ellerslie, Fencibles United, Island Bay, Lower Hutt, Melville United, Miramar Rangers.
Group D
Havelock North Wanderers, North Wellington, Tawa, Waterside Karori, West Coast Rangers, Western Springs.
Quarter-finals
Games to be played at 5pm, Sunday October 23, 2022
Q1: Winners group A v Runners-up group D
Q2: Winners group B v Runners-up group C
Q3: Winners group C v Runners-up group B
Q4: Winners group D v Runners-up group A
Semi-finals
Games to be played at 9am, Monday October 24, 2022
SF1: Winners Q1 v Winners Q2
SF2: Winners Q3 v Winners Q4
Final
Game to be played at 12.30pm, Monday October 24, 2022
Winners SF1 v Winners SF2
READ MORE: Ultimate NZ Soccer site’s list of past Napier tournament winners >>>>
Men’s Satellite Tournament
Group games to be played on Saturday October 22, 2022
Group A
Kapiti Coast, Levin, Otumoetai, Papamoa, Port Hill United, Uni-Mount Bohemian.
Group B
Claudelands Rovers, Manukau United, Nelson Suburbs, Takapuna, Taupo, Wellington Phoenix.
Group C
Franklin United, Hibiscus Coast, North Shore United, Northland, Taradale, Wainuiomata.
Group D
Albany United, Christchurch United, Gisborne Thistle, Manurewa, Ngaruawahia United, Whanganui Athletic.
Quarter-finals
Games to be played at 5pm, Sunday October 23, 2022
Q1: Winners group A v Runners-up group D
Q2: Winners group B v Runners-up group C
Q3: Winners group C v Runners-up group B
Q4: Winners group D v Runners-up group A
Semi-finals
Games to be played at 8am, Monday October 24, 2022
SF1: Winners Q1 v Winners Q2
SF2: Winners Q3 v Winners Q4
Final
Game to be played at 11am, Monday October 24, 2022
Winners SF1 v Winners SF2
Women’s Tournament
Group games to be played on Saturday October 22, 2022
Group A
Auckland United, Hamilton Wanderers, Hibiscus Coast, Kapiti Coast, Lakes, Wairarapa.
Group B
Fencibles United, Havelock North Wanderers, Hamilton Wanderers, Petone, Wairarapa, West Coast Rangers.
Group C
Ellerslie, Franklin United, Nelson, Otumoetai, Port Hill United, Tauranga City.
Group D
Franklin United, Greenhithe, Nelson Suburbs, Port Hill United, Taradale, Wellington Phoenix.
Quarter-finals
Games to be played at 5pm, Sunday October 23, 2022
Q1: Winners group A v Runners-up group D
Q2: Winners group B v Runners-up group C
Q3: Winners group C v Runners-up group B
Q4: Winners group D v Runners-up group A
Semi-finals
Games to be played at 8am, Monday October 24, 2022
SF1: Winners Q1 v Winners Q2
SF2: Winners Q3 v Winners Q4
Final
Game to be played at 11am, Monday October 24, 2022
Winners SF1 v Winners SF2
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