Campion win their first women’s title

CHAMPIONS: Campion College scored a late goal to clinch the Women's Eastern League title. They are, back (from left): Sarah Ruelens, Summer Ferris, Bella Fitzharris-Stevens, Dara Mulrooney, Maia Ferguson, Lucy Allan, Breanna Ferris, Imogen Amor-Bendall, Alice Sparks, Miah Somerton and John Hill (assistant coach). Front: Phil Allan (coach), Torepe Taumaunu (with Sonny), Tayla Broughton, Bree Allan, Grace Levy, Jasmine Sparks, Sofia Zame and Maggie Preston. Absent: Kat Vanderbilt. Picture by Salve Zame

It all came down to the dying moments of the last game of the competition in Women's Eastern League football at Wainui on Sunday.

A draw would give Gisborne Laundry Services Wainui Riverina the league title; only a win would do it for opponents Campion College.

A crowd of about 200 watched a fast-paced, tense game that was decided in the 89th minute with the only goal of the game.

Campion celebrated a 1-0 win and their first women's league title.

But for the first 20 minutes of the game, Wainui Riverina had taken it to Campion.

As the pressure mounted on the school side, the shots on goal started to rain in.

With Katerina Ngarimu, player-coach Lizzie Hall and Larisa Allan on target early in the game, Campion goalkeeper Grace Levy was forced to make some vital saves. One of them was a full-length diving save to her left to keep out a brilliant strike.

Campion's attacks early on were rare. They found it hard to get out of their own half, and anything they did muster was mopped up by Lily Auckram and the rest of the Wainui Riverina defence.

The midfield battle was enthralling. Wainui Riverina midfielders Renae Lolohea, Sophie Hemmington and Rosa Evans were in the thick of the action and won the early battles.

However, as the game wore on the Campion midfield four found their rhythm. Wide players Dara Mulrooney and Sofia Zame got more ball and central players Lucy Allan and Torepe Taumaunu staked their claim on the game.

Campion came close in the 25th minute when a shot by Taumaunu from just outside the penalty area skimmed the crossbar. Wainui Riverina keeper Michelle Knubley nearly got a hand to it.

Referee Geoff Griffin had his hands full as the tackles flew in . . . he had an excellent game.

With the match so far scoreless, both teams needed the halftime break.

They made more passes in the second half as the game settled down and became less frantic.

Campion troubled the Wainui Riverina defence more often. Strikers Tayla Broughton and Miah Somerton saw more of the ball and made space for themselves.

From a Mulrooney through-ball, Somerton raced on to the ball and shot from the edge of the box, only to see her effort well saved by Wainui Riverina keeper Knubley.

Campion skipper Lucy Allan was in the thick of everything, driving her team on.

Campion defenders Brea Ferris, Maggie Preston, a bloodied Bree Allan and Jasmine Sparks were a lot more compact and dealt with attacks better than in the early stages.

Wainui Riverina fullback Maria Waide had a good game but got forward less as Campion gained more possession and territory.

Then, in the 89th minute, it happened. Campion were awarded a free-kick 25 metres out, to the left of the goal.

Mulrooney stepped up and hit her shot just under the crossbar to huge applause from the Campion supporters ranged along the Wainui Beach sideline.

Minutes later the final whistle blew and for the first time Campion were champions.

An exhausted and emotional Campion coach Phil Allan, whose daughters Lucy and Bree play in the team, was speechless. Across nine years of coaching, he had taken them from the bottom of the table to champions.

He had help from many along the way, none more so than John Hill Snr this year.

Campion are a team built on friendships and it shone through on Sunday. The girls couldn't get the smiles off their faces.