Finally the 1st XI team. This team has had a lot of ups
and downs this year, and not with any fault of their own.
We started off the year with the introduction of some new
players, which included Maggie Brunton, Aishlin McIntyre,
Eden O’Leary, Tessa Luxton and Bianca Flanders. But also
we welcomed back Ashley Arquette. The team started off
the season strongly and showed all the other teams that
they may have some young players but they were a strong
team. As the season when on they hit a few downs. Sadly
in a game against Iona we lost a strong member of our
defence, Kayla who damaged her knee to the point that
she could no longer play for the rest of the season. But the
girls picked themselves up and kept going. At the end of
term 2 they had an important game against Napier Girls,
and not only did they win but they won the Dean
Ronberg Challenge Shield which NGHS had been the
holders of all season. We had this shield for a short time
and sadly we lose it back to NGHS. Over the term break
we had to say goodbye to our coach Theo, as he could
no longer coach the team due to work commitments. So
the girls had to do what they could, keep on going and not
give up. This was not only a turning point for the team but
this was when the girls really became a team.
Cheyenne and Ashley were outstanding for stepping up
and not only being captains but also being coaches when
needed. The team couldn’t have done it without either of
you, and I know that it was a huge amount of pressure put
on you.
Tawa was one of the most challenging inter school
competition I think the girls have had. The games were
played on turf, which most of the girls have never played
on, and Tawa have trained and played on all season. The
Girls were yet again left to coach themselves as Sophie
and I had to go by ambulance to Wellington Hospital. After
four hours waiting around and x-rays, we were both ready
to come home to the bay.
Overall the girls did a great job this season and came 3rd
overall in the division one competition. This put them in a
good mindset to go to Kathy Seaward tournament in
Papamoa. Tournament is always known to be a wet week,
always raining and this year was no different.
It rained every day, but at least this time it wasn’t that
cold. The girls didn’t start as well as we would have liked
to, losing the first game on the Monday and losing Lulu
from the defence line. But we had some lunch and got
back into the rain and won the afternoon games. This
was to follow for the next two days, where the team came
second in their pool and which got them into the top 8.
Which meant that they were the highest placed team from
Hawke’s Bay at the tournament. Yet again Sophie and I
had another visit to a local hospital. But when everything
came back all clear, we went on. Thursday morning
came and the girls struggled, and lost the game that
would have put them into the top 4. That afternoon they
turned it around, but unfortunately, Zoe who had been
showing everyone all tournament what a great player we
all knew her to be, had her time to join the injured list. But
again in Havelock spirit she still played on the Friday. We
ended the tournament 6th, not really where we wanted
to be, but I think we all (me included) learnt a lot from this
season and that tournament.
Miss White
Football Girls 1st XI
Back Row: Lauren Hartridge, Sophie Pyott, Lulu Jordan, Abbie Vose, Kayla
Redman
2nd Row: Eden O’Leary, Aishlin McInty re, Cheyenne Welsh, Tessa Luxton,
Bianca Flanders, Miss White (Manager)
Front Row: Monique Thomson, Maggie Brunton, Grace Fulford, Ashley Arquette,
(Captain), Zoe Lee