World Footy News

Round 1 of the NAB National Under 16 Championships was played out across the weekend at the Blacktown International Sports Park in Sydney.

The AFL South Pacific Under 16s squad had a warm up game last week at the same venue against local Sydney side Sydney Hills (pictured below); with South Pacific prevailing 10.6.(66) to Sydney Hills 7.2.(44). A good lead in to their first tournament game against the Australian indigenous Flying Boomerangs on Sunday.

In their Round 1 match against the Boomerangs on Sunday the South Pacific squad battled away to lose narrowly. With the lead changing several times during the day in what was both hard fought and at times very exciting football; in the end the Boomerangs were a bit cleaner with possession and as the scoreline indicates they finished off their hard work with goals.

South Pacific Goal Kickers:
Walter Fafita (NZ) 4, Luke Savere (PNG) 3, Gilmore Morehari (PNG) 2, Katah Siwee (PNG) 1

South Pacific Best Players:
South Pacific: Greg Ekari (PNG) Gilmore Morehari (PNG) Walter Fafita (NZ) Luke Savere (PNG) Te Rei Clark (NZ) Ben Tirang (PNG) Katah Siwee (PNG) Stormy Reti (NZ)

The tournament runs from Saturday July 6th to Saturday July 13th.

The schedule for the South Pacific squad is :
Sun Jul 7 South Pacific vs Boomerangs
Wed Jul 10 World vs South Pacific
Sat Jul 13 WA NW vs South Pacific

The South Pacific are in Pool C; where the matches are played with 4 x 20 minute quarters with NO time-on. Breaks are 5 mins, 20 mins and 5 mins respectively for all matches.

The next round sees the South Pacific take on the World XVIII. The World XVIII had a solid round 1 victory over the 2012 Pool C champions WA North West. The match promises to be another quality encounter.

South Pacific and Sydney Hills players last Thursday evening.