Football: Junior girls make history

The dominating Northland Under 12 football team.

The Northland U12 Girls football team made history being the first ever Northland team to win the Weir Rose Bowl Tournament.

Held in Cambridge in early October the tournament provides an excellent development opportunity for talented young players as they progress along the New Zealand Football talent identification pathway.

A team of 10 players was selected to represent the region challenging other teams from Northern, Auckland and WaiBOP Football Federations.

Northland players kept to their game plan throughout the competition with all the girls contributing to the team's success.

They remained undefeated throughout the tournament, coming away with some impressive wins and taking out the final against Auckland in a penalty shootout.

The girls showed a maturity beyond their years and kept calm under pressure to take the title. Striker Te Waiariki Read won the Golden Boot, scoring 13 goals in six games.

Teneille Hiki narrowly missed out on winning the Golden Gloves as goalkeeper of the tournament.

Northland only conceded five goals for the entire competition, a testament to the amazing defensive effort of the entire team.

Northern Football Federation's Dave Alabaster said it was a huge effort from the girls and showed the upside the future could have.

"It is great to see such a wealth of talent coming through for girl's football in Northland."