Football: Port Hill seal double success

The Port Hill United team who won Hawke's Bay women's football's Knockout Cup for the first time in the club's 40-year history. Photo / Duncan Brown

Port Hill United 4 Taradale 2 Knockout Cup final

Midfielder Maggie Brunton grabbed a hat-trick as Port Hill United won Hawke's Bay women's football's Knockout Cup for the first time in their 40-year history yesterday.

"That's the knockout cup and league double for the season as well as back-to-back league titles ... it's going to be a good prizegiving," elated manager Justin Andrews said after Rothbury Insurance Brokers Port Hill United's 4-2 win against Taradale at Napier's Bluewater Stadium.

The Shane McKenzie-coached Port Hill team led 3-1 at halftime. Brunton scored two of her goals in the first half while right winger Payten Marshall-Cram scored the other.

Andrews heaped kudos on keeper Bridie Barry.

"Taradale peppered her big time in the second half and she saved all but one of their attempts."

He pointed out 11 of the side were under-17 and this is a good sign for the club's future.

At the other end of the experience scale it was a winning farewell for striker Spike Lawlor, who played her final game at this level after 25 years of senior grade play.

Striker Aleesha Heywood and right midfielder Cara O'Neill scored Taradale's goals. Centre midfielder Alex Dickinson was Taradale's player-of-the-match and fellow centre midfielder Donna Trow showed her vast experience.

"I knew what to expect from the Port Hill side as I coach a lot of their girls who are in the Hawke's Bay Under-15 team. We just couldn't score enough goals particularly in the second half when Bridie [Barry] did a top job," Taradale coach Shelly Cameron said. "Both teams played good football in front of a big crowd which contributed to a great atmosphere.

"There was a bigger crowd than what some of the Central League games have attracted," Cameron added.