Played 13, won 6, lost 7 and a place in the semi-finals represented a good season for the under 21s, who are a young team with many players eligible to return next year.

The season was two rounds of six matches. After the first round, Cote had only two wins, but results were much more favourable the second time around and, in the end, the only two teams that we couldn’t beat at least once were the two who contested the final.

The last month was a real roller-coaster of a journey. There was a heavy loss to East Coast Bays, the eventual champions, but then brave and entertaining wins against North Shore and Silverdale earned the team fourth place on the table and a semi-final match-up with the top qualifiers, Takapuna. Unfortunately, they proved a little too big and a little too experienced, and the season finished there.

The captaincy was shared between Ethan Sipkes, Joseph Young and Zac Cassidy, but there were many leaders all over the field, not the least of whom was first five Nehemiah Gordon, who finished the season as the top points scorer in the club.

The top try scorers were Harry Carter and Paula Veilofia, two young men in their first year out of school, who each appeared in every game and will be players to watch in seasons to come.

With the way that this season finished, and with more than two-thirds of the squad eligible for the grade again next year, coaches Matt Taylor and Dale Marsters are excited about the future.