Collegiate should keep their heads up, having done well to win through to the final after a slow start to the season.
Like any senior school team, they will lose a couple of key players who will move on to young adult life, but the next generation of Collegiate players will be ready to fill the breach.
In contrast, the Castlecliff Red vs Collegians final for the Women's Division 2 was a real nailbiter, with Castlecliff holding on for a 2-1 win to retain their title, which they took last year when the game went to penalty strokes.
On this occasion, Castlecliff opened the scoring in the first half from a penalty corner, with Collegians making a swift reply a few minutes later.
Castlecliff regained the lead 18 minutes after the resumption, but disaster struck with seven minutes to go when their goalkeeper Casey Pinnock fell on a bad angle with a Collegians player on top of her, breaking her leg.
Her team was given five minutes to pad up another goalie, while they discussed how to close the game out.
"Castlecliff Red decided from here that they would run the clock down and just play a half court press, this is where all the strikers come back and play as defenders," said Penn, who played in the match.
The defensive line held and Castlecliff claimed the title.
There was no such suspense for St Anthonys as they took out the Division 3 title with a 13-0 hammering of Cullinane.
"They just proved too tough and just dominated the whole game," said Penn.
"Cullinane were missing a couple of their key players for the game, after playing so strongly all season."
The Division 3 Women's final was played earlier in the week between the two school teams Wanganui Collegiate 2nds vs 3rds.
In a bit of a surprise, 2nds won the match 5-0, as 3rds had been the stronger unit for most of the year.
Other results for the season in the Manawatu Secondary Schools Girls competition saw Wanganui Collegiate 1st XI finish in third place, with Wanganui High School behind them in fourth.
