Riverina led 1-0 at halftime, thanks to a well-worked goal in which Jayde Neal backheeled a pass to Torepe Taumaunu-Kingi, who hit a crossfield ball to Emily Graham, ranging up the left side of the field. She hit a powerful first-time shot past Bohemians goalkeeper Cassidy Beauchamp.
Bohemians left-winger Hollie Murrell started the second half with an impressive 40-metre run in which she beat three players. But Riverina got back so well that by the time Murrell looked up to pass, the three beaten players were replaced by three others who got back to defend.
Two minutes into the second half, Gisborne Laundry Services Wainui Riverina went 2-0 up. A right-wing corner was contested at the near post and bobbled on to the back of the goalmouth, where striker McKenzie Holmes was waiting to volley home with her trusty right foot.
Four minutes later, Graham scored her second goal and Riverina’s third — a 40-metre speculator that she caught just right. It sailed into the top right corner of the goal.
In the 75th minute, Graham missed a good chance to bring up her hat-trick and then, in the 77th, Dara Mulrooney made a left-wing run, rode a tackle in the penalty area and drove the ball under the diving body of Beauchamp.
The prize for most committed team member on Sunday could well go to Riverina centreback Morgan Lloyd.
On Saturday she was in Whanganui with the Gisborne under-12 girls’ team she coaches.
She drove back as far as Napier on Saturday night, and on Sunday morning drove the rest of the way, arriving at Childers Road Reserve at 9.30am for a 10.30 kick-off on the No.1 pitch.
Any fears about the state of the pitch were relieved by the relatively mild weather. The rain kept away for most of the weekend, and the extra length of the grass gave added protection to the surface.
The two men’s games on the No.1 ground on Saturday did not appear to have materially affected the pitch.
Riverina played good, structured football and had the better of the play.
Alongside Lloyd, Lily Auckram was steady at left centreback. Whatever got past these two was swept up by Larisa Mahns.
Rightback Samara Wharehinga-Walters had the task of marking Hollie Murrell, and did well to keep her relatively quiet.
Riverina were strong across the middle of the park, where Taumaunu-Kingi, Manaia Mill, Talia Chetty and left wingback Mulrooney kept their strikers supplied with ball and did enough on defence to keep their backline sheltered from direct attack.
Maria Waide and Graham had licence to get forward from midfield and give Holmes a hand. All three look comfortable on the ball.
Missing from the action was Lizzie Hall, unable to play because of a back injury and mightily disappointed about it, I understand.
Bohemians could not score against Riverina on Sunday but they gave them a bit of a hurry-up at times.
Sommer Murrell was impressive in the middle of midfield, contesting the loose ball and setting up play for those around her.
Mikayla Jelfs-Hall and Teah Kahaki showed flashes of competitive spirit that could serve them well, and Hollie Murrell looked to be the player most likely to create something from nothing.
At the back, Dana Kingsbeer and Jess Duncan were uncompromising in defence, and Samantha Akroyd swept across the backline to good effect.
Beauchamp had considerably more to do in the Bohemians goal than Georgia Richardson had in the Riverina goalmouth. Richardson did what she needed to do with assurance, though, while Beauchamp was called on to make several good saves.
The match was well controlled by referee Mel Knight.
