NZ Universities' impressive record to date in their World University Games camp in Auckland this week went west - or, rather, east - on July 14, as Eastern Suburbs came storming back from 3-1 down to score a 4-3 victory over some of this country's leading footballing students after an enthralling encounter at Albie Turner Field. With Suburbs' main goalscoring influence, Rebecca Tegg, lining up for NZU, stand-in coach Richard Wilson opted for a 4-5-1 line-up against the students, and it was the defensive nature of this combination which was tested to the fullest throughout the first spell, their determination to deny their team-mate the pleasure of scoring against them in evidence for all to see! Tegg wasn't the only NZU player Suburbs had to concern themselves with, though, although she was certainly the leading source of attacking menace in the opening minutes. Such as in the sixth minute, when Janet Groves cleared the ball against the striker as both pursued a Maree Hannay through ball. The ricochet careered past the approaching Ginny Tan, who raced back to clear the sphere off her line for a corner. Patrice Bourke's delivery picked out Tegg, whose effort was blocked. Denbigh O'Keefe's attempt to convert the rebound ended in the gloves of Tan, the Suburbs 'keeper going on to enjoy a fine first half display, save for her goal-kicking from pitch level. She was beaten in the eleventh minute, however, but it wasn't for the want of trying on Tan's part. Nancy Campbell slipped Tegg through a square defence, leaving her one-on-one with Tan, who blocked well at the striker's feet. But Hannay was following up, and steered the ball home into the empty net. Eight minutes later, Tegg was sent racing through by another angled pass, this time from Jen Kendall. The striker got the better of Bobbie Moore, but Tan's anticipation saw her racing off her line to foil Tegg at her feet once more - you got the impression that her club-mates would rather sweat blood than allow Tegg the pleasure of scoring against them! In a half rich in constructive football but dominated by defences - Groves and Brooke Rangi were outstanding at the heart of their respective rearguards - three more opportunities fell NZU's way before the break, with Tegg instrumental in each of them. Receiving a pass from Campbell, she held off a challenge before setting up Kendall, whose shot was turned round the post by Tan in the 27th minute. Sixteen minutes later, a poor goal kick by the 'keeper wasn't capitalized on by the students, although it wasn't for the want of trying. Kendall rewarded Hannay's overlapping run with a measured pass into her stride, the Cantabrian quickly crossing for Hannah McEwan. Jesse Verdon stepped in to intervene for Suburbs on this occasion, with Sandee Hui blocking Tegg's drive from the rebound, a feat repeated by Groves from the same player in stoppage time at the end of an absorbing first half, which saw NZU savouring a 1-0 lead during the break. What the first forty-five minutes lacked in goals the second spell more than made up for, as the nets bulged six times in a riveting twenty-six minute period of attack-oriented football. Suburbs got the ball rolling with a fiftieth minute equaliser. Flora McLeod's inch-perfect corner picked out substitute Alison Rumble, who rose to crown a text-book set-piece goal by sending a close-range header crashing into the back of the net - 1-1. But within two minutes, NZU had restored their lead. This time, it was a lovely flowing move, with the well-performed Hannah Light linking with the ever-industrious Bourke, whom the squad have nicknamed "Grandma", despite her being a mere 27 years old. Her "grandchildren" looked on in delight as NZU's captain for the night threaded a peach of a pass through the Suburbs defence for Hannay to latch onto and steer under the advancing figure of Tan, despite

the pressure brought about by the presence of Groves and Vicki Chong. Seven minutes later, Universities extended their lead still further, with Bourke instrumental once more. This time, her inswinging corner caused chaos in Suburbs' rearguard, and Hannay, at the near post, got the vital touch to send the ball into the roof of the net, completing her hat-trick in the process. At 3-1, Suburbs' hopes of overhauling their unbeaten opponents appeared dim, but driven on by Chong and Groves in defence, and midfield general Tarena O'Neill - with her months-old daughter Jodie taking in her first football match in dad's arms on the sideline - providing the platform on which Melanie Gooch and, in particular, McLeod were able to regain the ascendancy for their team. Gooch fired a warning shot at the hitherto inactive Chelsea Aim in the 62nd minute, but it was the one the striker fired five minutes later, on receipt of a scrumptious through ball from McLeod, which paved the way for Suburbs' comeback, the ball cannoning off the advancing Aim and the inside of her near post before crossing the line to make it 3-2 in NZU's favour. Five minutes later, it was 3-3, as Suburbs, now with their tails up, hauling themselves back on level terms with a lovely goal. McLeod was again the instigator, gathering the ball inside her own half before clipping it down the line to send Gooch zooming away once more. On far too many occasions, the speedster strays offside primarily through her seeming inability to satisfy the fundamental task of looking along the defensive line prior to timing her run in behind same. When she does put her mind to the task, defenders have the devil's own task endeavouring to keep pace, as Hannah Light discovered on this occasion. Gooch comfortably rounded her, then whipped in a low cross to the far post, where Rumble, who had made a fine off-the-ball run from midfield, was arriving on cue. She controlled the ball neatly before smashing home the equaliser in style. Straight from the kick-off, NZU stormed downfield, Jamie Hackett and Leanne Tiffen instrumental in a right flank raid which culminated in Hannay's driven effort being well saved by Tan. Suburbs cleared their lines from the resulting corner, and charged back up the other end, only for a promising 76th minute move to fall foul of Rebecca O'Neill's clumsy challenge on Gooch. McLeod wasn't daunted as she lined up the free-kick thirty yards from goal. And with good reason, for she sent the ball sailing over the head of Aim and under the crossbar to fire Suburbs in front for the first time in the match - 4-3, much to the delight of the goalscorer and her thrilled team-mates. NZU piled on the pressure in the fourteen minutes which remained, as they sought an equaliser of their own to maintain their unbeaten run. But Groves, Chong, Hui and company weren't to be denied, although the at times overly lenient refereeing of Jan-Hendrik Hintz came to their aid, as he twice waved play on when Hackett had good grounds for expecting free-kicks to be awarded in her favour. The game was up for grabs two minutes from time, the lively Kendall leading the charge on the left before presenting Hackett with a shooting chance. The ball flew low towards the bottom left-hand corner of Tan's net, but the 'keeper scrambled across to save at the second attempt, and ensure Eastern Suburbs would prevail over NZU by the odd goal in seven. Suburbs: Tan; Moore, Chong, Groves, Hui; McLeod, Butterworth (Rumble, 44), Fraser (T. O'Neill, 26) (Camp, 78), Gerrard (Parker, 57), Verdon (Fraser, 44); Gooch (Verdon, 90) Universities: Aim; Barnett, Campbell, Rangi, Light (Lewis, 76); McEwan (Tiffen, 52), Kendall, Bourke (R. O'Neill, 73), O'Keefe; Tegg (Hackett, 52), Hannay Referee:     Jan-Hendrik Hintz