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2010 Tour
Schoolgirls Target Return Of Long-Lost Trophy
by Jeremy Ruane
The New Zealand Secondary Schoolgirls football squad head to Tweed Heads on Australia’s Gold Coast this week aiming to claim the Deane Low Trophy for the first time since it was first contested in 1993.
The Australian Secondary Schoolgirls have held the wood - literally - over their New Zealand counterparts right from the outset in the battle for trans-tasman secondary schoolgirls footballing supremacy, with the Kiwis having recorded just two wins and three draws in the twenty-five matches played to date.
Encouragingly for New Zealand, of those results a win and a draw have been recorded in two of our last three clashes with the West Islanders, and NZSS coach Paul Temple is hoping that this time, an extra seat on the plane will need to be booked for the trip home!
Given the squad he has named, there is genuine hope that it will be required, because this is one of the most lethal sixteen-strong schoolgirl combinations ever to depart these shores, make no mistake!
"It is a really strong squad", says Temple. "Indeed, it’s probably the best all-round squad I’ve taken away. We’re hoping to turn the tables this time, having got very close to them in 2007.
"This is the first time since that win that we’ve been able to take our big guns away with us. So I’ve purposely picked a very attack-minded squad. If anything, I’ve gone a bit overboard on attacking players, but our strength in depth up front at present is insane!"
Put yourself in Temple’s shoes for a moment, and contemplate the permutations you could come up given the options of Olivia Chance, Holly Patterson, Katie Rood, Steph Skilton and Rosie White at your beck and call …
"There are a lot of different options in that frontline, that’s for sure", says the coach. "We don’t want to be short of options if in need of a goal. There’s no doubt Rosie White is the stand-out name, and they’ll know her reputation, but consider those players whom they won’t know too much about.
"Katie Rood, for instance. Because of the injury problems she had this year, this series marks a great chance for her to get some games under her belt and gain more experience on the international stage as well. Her pace is going to be a real threat for us".
As well as the attack-minded quintet, the squad boasts a host of players who have represented New Zealand on the international stage, with the bulk of them having played at FIFA age-grade Women’s World Cup Finals this year.
Indeed, just one of them hasn’t sported the silver fern on international duty before, so Temple is expecting big things of Emily Stotter. "I was really impressed with her at the National Secondary Schoolgirls Tournament", the coach says of the Hutt Valley High School student.
"She hasn’t been given her opportunity yet, so this is her chance - I hope it gives her a kick-start. Emily is more than capable of mixing it in this company. She’s of the same mould as an Evie Millynn or a Hannah Carlsen, who’s a late addition to the squad following the withdrawal of Rebecca Burrows".
Nadia Pearl, who is really coming into her own as an on-field leader after a year in which she was named Auckland Secondary Schoolgirls Player of the Year, proudly captains the national squad on this week-long four-match venture, about which Temple is under no illusions.
"Australia is always going to be a tough nut to crack, and it will be a tough task to win two out of the three matches, which is what we have to do to bring the trophy back home.
"We want to give it a crack. The players are looking forward to testing themselves in this three-games series, and I can’t see us being inferior to them. It’s up to us to perform and win, especially in a tough environment where we’re expecting really hot, humid weather, and a bit of rain as well".
The Australian squad will be "a really strong squad, we’re told, as all their players will be involved on their European tour next year. We’re really happy we’ve managed to get the series back on track and rekindled the rivalry. It’s almost three years since our last clashes - a long time between drinks!" declares Temple.
"I’m delighted to have been able to pick the strongest squad we can for this challenge. It’s a good balance of the tried and trusted who can do the jobs expected of them. As a squad, we’re confident we’ll be able to give them a real good go".
As well as the three matches for the Deane Low Trophy, details were unconfirmed at press time regarding a fourth fixture, possibly against Gold Coast United’s W-League squad.
The matches for the Deane Low Trophy will all take place at Tweed Heads, on Wednesday 15th at 8pm, Friday 17th at 2pm and Saturday 18th at 2pm. All times quoted are NZ Daylight Saving Time.
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 Rosie White on Peace Queen Cup duty
 Olivia Chance
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