posted on June 19, 2006 14:09
The ladies' first team had their Uncle Toby's Knockout Cup run ended by 2005 competition runners-up Eastern Suburbs at Pukekohe High School on Sunday but the Maroons can hold their heads up after a magnificent display that gave the visitors an early scare.
The Maroons turned in a teriffic first half effort that saw them reach the break facing only on a 0-1 deficit against a side containing several players that have represented New Zealand at senior level or are on the fringe of national honours.
The first half was an exhibition in non-stop effort and committment that any coach would be proud of as they restricted the visitors largely to strikes from the edge of the area as they defended their goal with gusto.
But that's not all they did.
When Pukekohe won the ball they were able to string together some quality possessions of their own and were complimented afterward by the Suburbs coaching staff for their style of play and their refusal to resort to the 'if in doubt - lump it out' strategy.
With the ladies sporting tired smiles at halftime, all the talk in the huddle was about re-producing their first half effort in the second period.
Unfortunately it didn't quite work out that way.
Suburbs scored twice in quick succession after the break and with the visitors' superior fitness beginning to tell, they added several quality goals, including a 20-yard pile-driver that would not look out of place in Germany about now, before the final 10-0 scoreline was reached.
To put that result in perspective, the same Suburbs side swept aside Papakura 9-1 in the WOMEN'S NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE earlier this year while Premier League Western Springs knocked DIVISION ONE Bay Olympic out of the cup with an 8-1 victory on Sunday.
The Maroons ply their league trade in DIVISION THREE.
A fortnight ago, the Maroons dispatched DIVISION TWO Onehunga Mangere from the competition to earn the right to face Suburbs and now know they will have nothing to fear from higher division opposition when they kickoff their Auckland region Knockout Cup campaign later in the season.
Player-of-the-day honours were taken by the whole side for their unwavering committment and each player earned the free drink shout given by their coach as a reward for their effort.
A big hand must go to the supporters who turned out for the match, including the majority of the women's reserve side who had their match cancelled earlier in the day.
The ladies get back into the league grind on Sunday against Bay Olympic at Bledisloe Park at 11am.
Game details:
Pukekohe 0 v Eastern Suburbs 10
HT: 0-1
Pukekohe: Emily Stichbury, Karla Shearer (Rachel Dominick 70'), Lana Morris, Kelsea MacDonald (Emma McCrory 65'), Alice Birch, Nicole Aukett, Leanne Dodd (capt), Gaylene Woolley, Sarah Holmes (Sonja Abbott 75'), Denise Edmonds, Nicola Birch.
Subs not used: Kirsten Davey.