Tatapouri Marist Thistle faced Campion College in very different conditions from the previous week, and both teams enjoyed the opportunity to play some nice football on a drier pitch.
It was a game of two contrasting halves. Campion spent a lot of time attacking in the first half but the safe hands and experience of Marist Thistle goal-keeper Mandy Owen made it hard for them to capitalise on their opportunities.
Campion went into the break only 1-0 up after a hard-fought first half. The goal came from some good build-up play from Campion and was well finished by Tayla Broughton.
The second half was all Campion’s with an onslaught of goals. Campion kicked up a gear and ended up 10-0 winners. They ran their lines well and delivered accurate passes for their forwards, who worked the ball around, found their targets and finished well.
The goals were well set up and finished cleanly, some of them with spectacular shots.
Dara Mulrooney scored a hat-trick. One of the goals was hit beautifully from well outside the goal box, clearing the keeper and dipping under the crossbar. Sofia Zame and Miah Somerton both scored two goals and Lucy Allan and Grace Levy scored one each.
Marist Thistle’s Owen said teammate Franny Simpson played a solid game at the back, cleaning up a lot of attacks, but Campion played some outstanding football.
“It is lovely to see them challenging for the women’s title this year — they certainly deserve their place in the top two,” Owen said.
Gisborne Laundry Services Wainui Riverina played Gisborne Girls’ High School at the Rectory ground on Sunday.
Wainui took control of the game right from kick-off, and were 2-0 up within the first five minutes, with goals from Manaia Mill and Katerina Ngarimu.
Wainui went on to score three more goals in the first half. Larisa Allan scoring two and player-coach Lizzie Hall, one.
Girls’ High made Wainui work harder in the second half, adding bodies in midfield and slowing down attacks.
Wainui scored only two more goals, through Mill and Allan.
Wainui’s stand-in goalkeeper, Jess Colebourne, was named player of the match. Although she wasn’t tested much, she kept a clean slate.
Hall said Mill had a strong game in the middle of the park, covering where necessary and creating some great attacking plays.
Centreback Lauren Bennett had a strong defensive game, Hall said. She also turned defence into attack by carrying the ball forward to distribute to the Wainui strikers.
Although the score was 7-0 this didn’t reflect the heart and determination Girls’ High showed. The Girls’ High goalkeepers — Emmerson Brownlie in the first half and Kim Hayes in the second — made plenty of saves to keep the goal-count down.