Tournament Summary

Monday, 1st September 2025 at 10:10am

Winter Tournament Summary - by Sport Director, Heather Leah

Kia ora koutou, last week was Secondary Schools Winter Tournament Week, one of the highlights of the school sporting calendar, and Green Bay High School was proudly represented by three teams who travelled near and far to compete.

Our Premier Netball girls had a tough start, with a couple of early losses knocking them into the bottom 16 for playoffs. But in true Green Bay spirit, they persevered, showed grit and determination, and fought their way to finish top of that bracket, placing 17th overall.

Our Girls' First XI Football team travelled all the way to Napier, where they had some tough luck in pool play, finishing second in their group, which meant they just missed out on competing in the top eight. Despite that, and with the added commotion of not one but two penalty shootouts, the girls battled hard and proudly came away placing 11th in the tournament.

Our Boys' First XI Football team were a real force in their pool play, finishing ranked top of the tournament through the early rounds. Unfortunately, an unlucky penalty shootout went against them, preventing them from reaching the semifinals. But despite injuries and some very tired bodies, the boys bounced back in style, winning their final game in yet another nail-biting penalty shootout to claim 5th overall.

For me, being alongside the boys’ football team all week was truly inspiring. It showcased their incredible determination, resilience, teamwork, camaraderie, discipline, leadership, and perseverance, all the qualities that not only make strong athletes but also outstanding young people.

Of course, none of these tournaments can happen without an enormous amount of planning and commitment behind the scenes. I want to thank our staff and supporters for the long hours that go into ensuring these trips run smoothly. A special acknowledgement to Matua Jamie Armstrong, who, alongside Archie, was there every day, coaching and encouraging the boys to be the best athletes they could be.

To Jo and Lisa, our Netball coaches, for their commitment and the positive impact they continue to have on Green Bay Netball. And to Amanda, the Girls’ Football team manager, who, along with Leo, organised every detail of the girls’ trip, from transport and accommodation to meals and activities, and no doubt so much more.

I would also like to thank our SLT team, who made the effort to come out to multiple games across the week. Their support meant a great deal to our students and really lifted the spirits of our teams.

To all our players and coaches, thank you for representing Green Bay High School with such pride, courage, and spirit. We are very proud of you all.

Ngā mihi nui, Heather Leah Director of Sport - GREEN BAY HIGH SCHOOL