Riverina and Girls’ High in Braybrook Cup thriller

FINALISTS: Players from Braybrook Cup winners Riverina (in green) and runners-up Gisborne Girls’ High School gather after the final. They are, back (from left): Tessa Hills, Jade Neal, Maria Wade, Larisa Mahns, Renae Lolohea, Jandy Solomon, Lily Auckram, Kristy Roa, Morgan Lloyd, Lizzie Hall (white headband, crouching), Catherine Walker, Katerina Ngarimu, Rebecca Collier, McKenzie Holmes, Grace Mclldowie, Mia Lee-McGill, Erin Sycamore and Natalie Stairs. Front: Talia Chetty, Maddie Wilson, Leah Scholefield, Olivia Rodgers, Te Uarangi Olsen, Trynatee Lolohea, Tori Lolohea, Rachel Scott, Emma Brownlie, Tyler Andrews, Georgia Richardson, Samara Wharehinga-Hollis and Morgan Andrews. Front: Bailey Colbert and Paige Bentley. Picture supplied

FOOTBALL

TWO hat-tricks featured in a thrilling Braybrook Cup women’s football final at Harry Barker Reserve on Sunday.

Erin Sycamore, for Riverina, and Maddie Wilson, for Gisborne Girls’ High School, each scored three goals in a game that went to extra time before Riverina emerged 5-4 winners.

Jandy Solomon and McKenzie Holmes also scored for Riverina, while Tessa Hills was the other scorer for Girls’ High.

Riverina started as favourites after they beat women’s league winners United in the semifinal, but Girls’ High showed that anything could happen in a final.

Girls’ High led 2-1 at halftime and came within a whisker of winning the final. Riverina forced the game into extra time by scoring with the last kick of normal time to make the score 3-3.

Riverina took the lead in extra time, Girls’ High equalised and Riverina scored again to make the final score 5-4.

A good-sized crowd enjoyed a “cracking final” on the Harry Barker Reserve No.2 ground.