08/09/2025
To top off a great season, the Rongotai Junior Yellow team faced their toughest (or at least most important) challenge yet: the parents.
The parents strode onto the pitch full of confidence, buoyed by superior numbers and the luxury of unlimited substitutions. The players, lacking their coach’s encouragement from the sideline, shaped up in an unconventional 4-0-4 formation—conceding the midfield entirely.
Early on, the parents took full advantage, racing out to a commanding 5–2 lead. But as the game wore on, more parents were standing than running, suggesting that enthusiasm had perhaps outpaced fitness and experience.
The players, meanwhile, grew stronger. With solid defending and incisive passes up front, they clawed it back to 5–5. The parents rallied once more, only for the juniors to equalise again just before the final whistle. Final score: 6–6. Honours even and bragging rights snatched from the parents for the car ride home.
A huge thanks to everyone who’s been part of the season—we can’t wait for next year!
And a special thank you to Duncan for his outstanding efforts as coach this year. It’s not often a junior third team is guided by someone so knowledgeable, encouraging, and generous with their time.
