It was hardly one of those inspirational half-time pep talks spewing straight from a script of a Hollywood movie, but coach Martin Robards praised his lads for turning things around fast.
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In the comeback story from the six winning Launceston sides, the under-10 NTJSA Black representative boys had looked down and out on Sunday two goals behind.
Robards stepped in and kept the message simple.
“Stay positive – keep trying to play the brand of soccer we’ve been training,” he said.
“Move the ball around, keep possession, but pass it around like we taught them.”
That worked a treat.
The 2-0 deficit to Devonport narrowed and the scores eventually were levelled.
In the dying minutes, the home side got the winner.
The stuff of kids’ dreams.
“We were not confident, but we still thought we’d go okay today,” their gaffer said.
“They’re obviously a group of young kids, but they’ve come along really well and they’re still learning.”
“It’s good to see young kids keep going and not stop.”
That’s happened before.
The first of three state tournaments did not fare as well.
“Back in Devonport, we dropped our heads, won two games, then went backwards and forgot what we were trying to do,” Robards said.
“It’s just a pity we don’t have two more tournaments because since Hobart we are just starting to gel as a team.”
The annual Launceston event capped off another massive weekend with a cast of nearly thousands turning up, drawing teams from Tasmania but also interstate.
The host association held its own on the weekend in the finals at Churchill Park.
Launceston City Devils under-nine tier 2 team won all four times to take the title.
NTJSA under-10 Gold boys won four of their five matches to edge out South Hobart.
The under-11 Gold boys got through on goal difference after four teams all finished on seven points each.
The under-12 Black girls had to defeat NSW side Hinchinbrook 3-1 in the final to ensure they got the title.
But the biggest NTJSA win could well have been the under-15 Gold boys whose coach Richard Jones lead them through the tournament undefeated to win it from iconic South Hobart NPL coach Ken Morton.
Four NTJSA teams also finished the day runners-up.
The under-12 Gold boys won five times, but lost once to the unbeaten Victorian side Ringwood City.
The under-13 Gold boys lost its final 2-1 to Burnie.
Three wins and one loss earned the under-13 Black boys runners-up to Devonport in the round-robin.
The under-14 girls side won twice and lost twice to move up into second place behind Kingborough.
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
