Tournament Week 2025: Boys Football

The Macleans College Premier Boys Football team travelled to Palmerston North to compete in the Premier National Tournament.

In Pool play, the team delivered competitive performances:

• A narrow 3-2 loss to Auckland Grammar School
• A hard-fought 0-0 draw with Shirley Boys’ High School
• A strong 3–1 win over Lindisfarne College

Despite these results, the team finished third in their pool and progressed to the Plate competition (17th-32nd bracket). In the Plate playoffs, they demonstrated resilience and quality football:

• A 2-1 victory over Mount Albert Grammar School
• A 1-0 win against Otago Boys’ High School
• A commanding 3-0 performance against Paraparaumu College

These wins secured a place in the Plate final against Whangārei Boys’ High School. After a week of fine spring weather, the final was disrupted by a severe storm on the morning of the match. Torrential rain, strong winds and hail left the fields waterlogged and muddy. Forced to adapt their style of play, the team battled hard but were defeated 5-1, finishing 18th overall in the country.

The demanding schedule proved challenging and, by the final game, four of the seventeen squad members were sidelined with injuries.

The team showed determination, resilience and sportsmanship throughout the week - they represented Macleans College with pride and can take confidence from their efforts on the national stage.