The Matamata Domain will host WaiBOP United’s opening fixture of the 2015 ASB Youth League this Sunday, when 2014 champions, Nelson/Marlborough Falcons, make a flying visit to play the team representing the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region.
The ASB Youth League is New Zealand’s twelve team national league for under-20 teams and serves as the development pathway towards the ASB Premiership for the country’s top young talent. A host of players have made the transition into the top domestic competition in recent times, including the likes of All Whites and Men’s U-20s representatives Clayton Lewis, Moses Dyer, Oliver Sail and Sam Brotherton.
The match kicks off at 12.30pm at the Domain on Sunday October 4.
The Swifts youth team is also in action soon as they gear up for the National Under-19 Club Championships, which will be held in Napier over Labour Weekend. The side has two warm up games scheduled for the Domain, against Tauranga and Pukekohe on October 10 and 17 respectively. Both matches kick off at 2pm.
Matamata is one of only four Waikato clubs to be attending this prestigious three day youth tournament. The team has been drawn to play Havelock North, Manurewa, North Wellington, Onehunga Mangere United and Takapuna in their group. In the rather cut-throat format, only the group winners progress to knockout play. The Swifts have twice finished second in their group and will be hoping to go one step better this time around.
Photo: Grant Stantiall.