The Auckland women's soccer team put their 'National Champions' title on the line in the first week of August, as the Poverty Bay Association hosted the sixteenth National Tournament. Under the coaching and management team of Doug Moore, and Roy and Barbara Cox, the province had left no stone unturned in preparing for the defence of their crown, with an initial twenty-five strong squad, which, with regular training sessions and match-play, most notably the Fiji Visitors Bureau Queen's Birthday Weekend quadrangular tournament, was reduced to a final selection number sixteen. Another contributing factor in this area was the highly competitive club competition in Auckland, proven by the fact that the players selected were chosen from each of Auckland's top five clubs - champions Eden (8), South Auckland Rangers (2), Glenfield Rovers (3), Waitemata City (1) and West Auckland (2). The "Awesome Aucks", under the captaincy of goalkeeper Leslie King, began their defence with a 6-0 victory over Northland. Donna Baker provided the tournament's first individual highlight, netting a hat-trick, while a well-taken Lyn Pedruco header, and a brilliant strike each from Anita Hall and Monique Van de Elzen, completed the scoring. As expected, Waikato provided their northern neighbours with their toughest assignment in sectional play, both sides producing performances high on commitment and skill. A stroke of individual brilliance is often the key to deciding quality matches of this nature, and Glenfield ace Debbie Pullen provided it in this encounter, shrugging off her marker to rifle home the only goal of an absorbing duel. Auckland proved their "Awesome" title in no uncertain terms in their third outing, annihilating Bay of Plenty 9-0. Baker, Van de Elzen and Michele Cox provided many of the creative touches, while Baker also found time to finish off four moves, making her the tournament's leading scorer at this stage. Not to be outdone, acting captain Terry McCahill and Paula Stuart scored a brace apiece, while Karin Jensen got the ball rolling with a penalty. After such a performance as that against Bay, the title-holders relaxed markedly against Otago, only scoring five times without reply. Van de Elzen and Hall increased their personal goal tallies, netting three and two respectively, in a display which indicated a team playing well within its capabilities, prior to their 'pressure' matches. In completing their group play against Hawkes Bay, the defending champions rested their midfield lynchpin Cox, and looked a very ordinary team throughout the first half. Some well-chosen words from coach Moore at half-time saw the team begin to play something approaching a fluent passing game during the second period of play. Van de Elzen and Baker were again the goalscoring beneficiaries in a 2-0 triumph. The other semi-finalist from Group One was Waikato, who edged out Hawkes Bay by virtue of a more prolific attack force. Last year's runners-up, Wellington, headed Group Two, while the last four were completed by the qualification of Nelson, who edged out Canterbury on goal difference to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time ever. Nelson's reward for their endeavours was a clash against Auckland. The tournament title-holders moved menacingly into the final with a 5-0 win. Pullen was at her majestic best, netting three, while Baker slammed home a penalty, and Jensen produced a brilliant header from a McCahill free-kick to end proceedings. Their opponents in the final, Wellington, were forced to come from behind by a plucky Waikato, who also forced the capital's representatives to extra-time before the issue at stake was resolved. So to the final, and on paper, a classic in store. The elements had been kind all week, but today was pay-back time, so the watching throngs were treated to a clash with that great leveller, mud, thrown in for good measure. Auckland were content to absorb the Wellington pressure, using their undoubted forward speed to catch out their opponents on the counter-attack. And against the tournament's only other unbeaten time, this tactic was to pay dividends - twice. Cox, producer of a near-flawless display as the midfield anchor, beat three opponents before releasing Baker down the right. Three tailed-off defenders later, the tournament's top scorer fired in a low drive which Wellington 'keeper Ingrid Bain could only parry over her line - Auckland were in front. Wellington battled tenaciously, but sterling defensive efforts from McCahill, Jocelyn Parr, Sacha Haskell, Cox and King maintained Auckland's faultless defensive record. Their efforts were rewarded late in the match, when a raiding Baker looped in a far post cross which Bain fumbled - Van de Elzen said "Thankyou very much", and the title was Auckland's for a sixth time, sealed by a 2-0 winning margin.