This was not one of the great seasons for the Northcote Colts. Unfortunately unable to repeat last season’s place in the playoffs. With a 3-win, 9-loss record, Cote finished 6th on the table but it was a case of so near, yet so far. Two wins from the first four games looked promising, and when we led Silverdale 30-10, two minutes into the second half, promising looked like it might turn into pretty good. But then the wheels fell off, and the axles as well. Silverdale ran in 6 tries in the final 25 minutes, we got smashed 50-30 and never really came back from that.

It wasn’t all gloom. There was an excellent win over ECB, we did look good against Takapuna until discipline and injury decimated us, and but for a referee’s call at the last, we should have beaten North Shore. There were excellent individual performances: Tyler Thomson scored half a dozen tries and made the Harbour u18 team. We think those tries will be just the first of many in Cote colours. Tristan Uhi scored the individual try of the season, while in the same game Zac Cassidy blew an even better, dropping the ball instead of forcing it. Nehemiah Gordon’s goal kicking was again pin-point accurate, and Harry Carter was the third top try scorer, despite missing a few games because of NZ Touch commitments.

A number of players travelled a long way to train and play every week and made themselves regular starters. Jared Leef got a couple of runs for the Premiers, as did Harry and Nehe at various times.

As it does every year in this grade, age has caught up with many and we thank those who will not be eligible in 2024 and hope that we see them down the club in the Premier teams next season.