HOSTILE CROWD: Wanganui's Ethan Cohen gets the ball through two Hawke's Bay defenders in the Curtis Cup final yesterday.
When you're the best, everyone wants to see you knocked down.
The Wanganui Under 13 team felt as if they didn't have a friend in Levin but they could not have cared less during a tight Curtis Cup final yesterday afternoon, holding off Hawke's Bay's second-half comeback to win 2-1.
The team upheld the legacy of last year's squad, now a nationally competitive Under 15 side, by retaining the cup. On the way to the final they scored 32 goals and conceded only two.
They beat Wellington 5-1 on Wednesday to book their place against Hawke's Bay and coach Melissa Hylton said with all those other well-beaten sides watching the playoff, Wanganui were feeling the pressure.
"It was negative off the field from the other teams. Wellington took it hard.
