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August 2007
Fourth-Placed Finish For U-17s
by Jeremy Ruane
New Zealand's U-17 women completed this country's best-ever performance at the Australian National Youth Championships at Coffs Harbour in July, a 2-1 loss to Victoria confirming a fourth-placed finish for the hosts of the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Finals.
1-0 wins over Victoria and Western Australia, along with a tentative opening day goalless draw with New South Wales Country, propelled New Zealand to the top of their group, and a semi-final encounter with Queensland.
Just after half-time in that match, New Zealand was 3-0 up and, according to coach Paul Temple, “absolutely flying” towards a place in the final. But the Queenslanders - “the best footballing side here, without question” - mounted a stunning turnaround in the last twenty minutes and came storming home to sink the Kiwis 4-3, a result which left the beaten team in despair.
“The girls were absolutely devastated afterwards”, said Temple. “We played absolutely awesome in the first half, and were 2-0 up at the break. Then we scored again just after half-time, and we were absolutely flying.
“But Queensland's first goal was akin to an equaliser, and it really took the wind from our sails. They were rampant from then on, and we lost our composure and had no answers, although we did have chances to score again.
“We're really disappointed with the way we reacted to the situation - it was a mental thing, rather than anything physical. At the same time, we'll be better for this - it'll make the girls a lot stronger”.
As did the week as a whole. And while the after-effects of that stunning reversal were still being felt during the third place play-off, the girls had perked up considerably by the time they played their bonus fixture against the Young Matildas on the final day of their trans-tasman sojourn.
Due to failing light - the Australian U20s arrived late in the afternoon and virtually stepped off the bus onto the park - only forty minutes were possible in this unofficial hit-out at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort. It ended all square, 1-1, with Yumi Nguyen on target for the Kiwis.
“While it's a pity it wasn't an official game”, reflects Temple, “it certainly served its purpose, and gave our players an opportunity to see the level they need to be aiming for. All in all, a very good end to the week”.
And a memorable one, too. Their only defeat in round-robin play was by the odd goal in five against Northern NSW, New Zealand having found themselves 3-0 down with fifteen minutes to play, one of which was a highly dubious penalty.
Caitlin Campbell set up both goals, and her set-piece prowess ensured she had a hand in a number of others throughout the week. She wasn't alone in impressing favourably throughout the tournament, however.
The names of Megan Shea, Rosie White, Jessica Rollings, Victoria Esson, Annalie Longo, Leah Gallie and Sarah McLaughlin were among those who were prominent in this key part of New
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New Zealand's line-ups and results:
0-0 NSW Country
Charlotte Wood; Rebecca Brown, Amy Collins (Maia Vink, 25), Victoria Esson, Anna Fullerton (Megan Shea, 40) (Nadia Pearl, 50); Leah Gallie, Annalie Longo, Caitlin Campbell; Jessica Rollings (Lauren Mathis, 42), Rosie White, Sarah McLaughlin
2-3 Northern NSW
Scorers: White, Longo
Wood; Brown, Vink (Collins, 65), Esson, Fullerton; Gallie, Pearl (Longo, 46), Campbell; Mathis (Rollings, 51), White, Yumi Nguyen (McLaughlin, 36)
1-0 Victoria
Scorer: Nguyen
Wood; Collins (Brown, 60), Shea, Esson, Fullerton (Vink, 36); Gallie, Pearl (Rollings, 45), Campbell, Longo; Mathis (White, 36), Nguyen (McLaughlin, 36)
1-0 Western Australia
Scorer: Shea
Wood; Brown, Shea, Esson, Fullerton; Gallie, Rollings, Campbell (Pearl, 50), Longo (Nguyen, 60); White, McLaughlin
3-4 Queensland
Scorers: White (2), McLaughlin
Wood; Brown, Shea, Esson, Vink (Fullerton, 36); Gallie, Longo, Pearl (Campbell, 55); Rollings (McLaughlin, 36), White, Mathis
NB Longo and Campbell were interchanged every ten minutes - the tournament was played under rolling substitute rules.
1-2 Victoria
Scorer: Shea
Wood; Brown (Shea, 36), Collins, Vink (Esson, 36), Fullerton; Longo (Gallie, 36), Pearl (Mathis, 45), Campbell; White, McLaughlin (Rollings, 36), Nguyen
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Zealand's development programme, ahead of this country's hosting of the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Finals.
The coach is delighted with the overall outcomes from New Zealand's involvement in the tournament. “Looking at the week as a whole, I couldn't have wished for the tour to go any better”, says Temple. “We've got a gauge of where we're at, and what we need to work and improve upon.
“At the same time, we've learnt some valuable lessons each day, the overriding one revolving around controlling the controllables, while the team spirit and team bonding has been superb, as has been the players' response to developing a concept where they all need to have and show leadership qualities”.
The team was captained by a different player each day to aid this process, and all those chosen to wear the armband “have shown good traits in different ways”, says Temple.
“The social aspect of the team and team-building has been top class. They are a really tight group, with no cliques, which is really good - it's made for a really happy environment.
“Another aspect of the week which has been hugely beneficial is learning that we can be quite in-depth with our strategy, knowing the players, who are developing a good understanding of the game, are well capable of taking on detailed tactical preparations and have the discipline to apply them on the pitch”.
On behalf of assistant coach Rowena Fulham, Temple was keen to acknowledge the week-long efforts of the tour staff. “They have been first class, and the players are very appreciative and respectful of what the staff have done.
“Our physio, Anna Barlow, has been absolutely fantastic - so dedicated. Tour leader, Helen Tunstall, has been a godsend, particularly in relation to the management aspects of the tour and her education sessions, which the players have greatly relished.
“And Jose Figueira, with his analysis work, has also performed above and beyond the call. He watched and videoed every game in the tournament, then provided excerpts and powerpoint displays for our next game which ensured the players received the ultimate preparation from a technical perspective”.
Reflecting on the standard of the tournament, particularly when compared with last year's competition, Temple was greatly impressed with the Coffs Harbour event. “The standard has improved ten-fold to what it was last year - it's gone through the roof. Even the traditional easy-beats aren't getting walloped.
“90% of games were won by teams scoring the first goal. The teams were well structured and organised, with players showing the benefits from training four times a week with gym sessions on top”.
New South Wales emerged victorious in both the U-15 and U-17 competitions, while the New Zealand U-17's next scheduled engagement is a planned overseas tour during the September school holidays.
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