Football: Schoolgirls claim senior title

LEAGUE WINNERS: The Wanganui High School football team. Back (from left) Erica Paterson, Clare Cvitanovich, Jackie Hazelhurst, Sammie Miller, Emilia Schmidt, Joe Okada (referee), Reahn Dobbie, Courteney Nixon, Lily Keats-Farr, Colm Smyth (coach). (Front) Eden Proctor, Lexi Maples, Rebekah Butters-Chamberlain, April Hyland, Emily McGuinness, Tess Grunwald, Rebekah Ngapeka, Courtney Harvey. (Absent: Leata Connor, Olivia Spring Reynolds, Emma Loggie and Emily Mayhead), after winning the senior women's title.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A combination of young legs, developing skills and an ability to stick to game plans handed the Wanganui High School (WHS) football team the senior women's title after an unbeaten season.

The young side beat Castlecliff Scrappers 4-2 in the final played in strong winds at Wembley park on Saturday.

WHS coach Colm Smyth said the match was meant to have been played a month earlier until a massive rain "bomb" hit the city forcing a postponement.

"Ironically it was very windy on Saturday too, so after we won the toss we elected to play into the wind in the first half," Smyth said yesterday.

"We were 2-nil down after about 10 minutes and were getting a bit worried, but we managed to equalise just before the break and went into the second spell with the wind at our backs. The girls managed to put another two into the net. It was a very good game with both teams playing really well, but I think it eventually came down to young legs and the wind at our back."

The Rivercity Scrap Metals-sponsored Castlecliff Scrappers are a mix of older and younger players and went through the competition unbeaten until Saturday.

However, the Scrappers did draw with WHS in an earlier league match before going down 5-0 to the same side in a James Cup clash.

The James Cup is played in a handicap format and WHS went into the final against Collegiate with the latter enjoying a 4-goal buffer. WHS won the match 1-0, but that was not enough to claim the James Cup.

Smyth said his young team were all school students ranging for Year 10 to Year 13 and while he was set to lose a few of his older girls, he was hopeful of retaining the services of the younger brigade next season.

"Some are set to leave school, so we'll lose a few players, but the younger ones have played excellent football all season and hopefully they will be available for the next year or two," he said.

"Young legs have helped through the season, but so has the skill level and their ability to stick to game plans - they're a well-drilled side."

Smyth also thanked the side's sponsors and the players' families.

"Sponsors New Zealand Computer Solutions and Hyland Shearing have helped with tops and jerseys and that type of assistance takes the pressure off," he said.

"The parents have also been outstanding in their support throughout the season."