The Deane Low Shield, the symbol of supremacy in trans-tasman secondary schoolgirls soccer, will remain in the hands of the Australian Secondary Schoolgirls Association for another year after the host nation prevailed 2-1 in the latest three-test series against their New Zealand rivals at Brisbane's Richlands Stadium in January. The `1' in that equation, however, is something from which the Kiwis will take great heart. It marks New Zealand's second-ever victory over Australia in secondary schoolgirls soccer, and comes some two draws and fifteen defeats since they last savoured victory over their West Island rivals, way back in December 1994, when Marlies Oostdam scored the only goal of the game in Mittawong. Over twelve years on, Betsy Hassett and Roseanne Cox - with a last-minute winner - did the damage in the final test of a series which the New Zealand team dominated in all areas but one - putting the ball in the net! After two preparatory matches, in which a 7-0 romp against local senior side Palm Beach was followed by a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Australia's 2008 U-17 Women's World Cup squad, the respective national secondary schoolgirls squads got down to business on January 16. Despite dominating proceedings - twenty-two crosses, and sixteen shots on target, the Kiwis succumbed to a thirteenth minute free-kick, one of just two shots the Australians fired in the entire match. The set-piece, which was awarded for reasons only the local match officials could explain, hit the crossbar and was bundled home from close range by Australia's captain, Jordan Marsh. “We're all a bit gutted, to be honest”, said NZSS coach Paul Temple afterwards. “We produced a top-class performance, with lots of effort, and effectively pinned the Aussies back inside their own half for much of the game. “But despite dominating, we just couldn't score. The pick of our efforts, in a match played in 32 degree heat throughout, was Sam Selwyn's crossbar-rattling twenty-five yarder, although we went close on numerous other occasions”. So to the second test in the series, two days later. The host nation, despite enjoying the rub of the green (and gold) throughout from the local match officials when it came to the fifty-fifty decisions, found themselves on the back foot again right from the off, in similar

Tour details: Palm Beach 0, NZ Secondary Schoolgirls 7 (H. Collins (24, 34, 42), R. Cox (30), H. Jones (48, 51), G. Goulding (62))  HT 0-4 NZSS:     Charlotte Wood; Poppy Binning, Sarah Nelson, Hannah Valentine, Nicole Stratford (Anna Green, 82); Georgia Goulding, Sam Selwyn (Annalie Longo, 75), Betsy Hassett (Caitlin Campbell, 75); Helen Collins (Jessie Verdon, 55), Holly Jones (Renee Leota, 82), Roseanne Cox (Chelsey Wood, 55) Australian U-16 Women  2-0 NZ Secondary Schoolgirls  HT 1-0 NZSS:     Rangi Nuku Nikora; Binning (Green, 45), Nelson, Valentine, Verdon; Wood (Goulding, 45), Selwyn (Longo, 45), Hassett (Campbell, 45); Collins, Jones (Leota, 45), Cox (Stratford, 45) Australian Secondary Schoolgirls 1 (J. Marsh (13)), NZ Secondary Schoolgirls 0  HT 1-0 NZSS:     Nikora; Binning (Stratford, 50), Valentine, Verdon, Green; Selwyn (Jones, 78), Longo, Campbell; Collins, Leota, Goulding (Hassett, 65) Australian Secondary Schoolgirls 2 (J. Seaman (10), J. Marsh (55 pen)), NZ Secondary Schoolgirls 1 (R. Leota (35))  HT 1-1 NZSS:     Nikora; Stratford (Jones, 46), Valentine, Verdon, Green; Longo, Campbell, Wood, Goulding (Hassett, 46); Leota, Selwyn Australian Secondary Schoolgirls 1 (T. Shaw (75)), NZ Secondary Schoolgirls 2 (B. Hassett (20), R. Cox (89))  HT 0-1 NZSS:     Nikora; Binning, Valentine (Verdon, 50), Nelson, Green; Longo, Campbell (Goulding, 75), Wood,  Hassett; Leota (Selwyn, 85), Jones (Cox, 25)

fashion to the first test. As in that match, New Zealand were punished for some poor defending, with Jessica Seaman pouncing to round the exposed Rangi Nuku Nikora and put the Australians in front after ten minutes. Rattled, the Kiwis regrouped, and resumed their relentless pounding of their rivals' goal. Georgia Goulding hit the crossbar with a header, while Caitlin Campbell's delicate lob was among many efforts thwarted by the goalkeeping of Kristi Harvey. She was at last beaten ten minutes before half-time, when NZ captain Annalie Longo darted into the penalty area and let fly. Harvey parried the effort, but the day's star turn, Renee Leota, was following in and deservedly drew New Zealand level. With half-time substitute Betsy Hassett making a telling contribution following her introduction, it was more of the same early in the second spell, until a rare Australian attack saw a penalty awarded, much to everyone's bemusement. The task of turning home the spot-kick was thrust upon captain Jordan Marsh, and she made no mistake to put the shield-holders in charge on the scoreboard once more. “I'm very proud of the girls and the performances they have put in”, said NZ coach Paul Temple afterwards. “I can't ask for more effort and desire from them - they have given their all. “But we need to learn a lesson from Australia and that's to develop a killer instinct to punish mistakes and take chances. I have no problem in saying that we have totally outplayed them twice and are tactically, athletically and technically better than them, but they have been clinical and we need to learn to do better. “The signs, however, are very encouraging. We have come to Australia and put in two fantastic performances of which we can be proud and can build on for the future. The girls are very gutted about the result, but we will be ready for another go on Saturday, when we will look to be more clinical and get the result the tour's performances deserve”. And get it they did, Roseanne Cox netting the winner in the last minute of the most evenly contested game of the series, after Tenneille Shaw's goal fifteen minutes from time had matched Betsy Hassett's twentieth minute strike for the visitors, who return home buoyed by the outcome of the final match of their ten-day tour, not to mention the experiences they have gained both individually and collectively during their time in Brisbane and environs.