New Zealand is just one win away from claiming the symbol of trans-tasman schoolgirl soccer supremacy for the first time after scoring a 1-0 win over their Australian counterparts at Tweed Heads on December 15. Rosie White headed home a Kate Loye cross from twelve yards in the 67th minute to put the Kiwis within touching distance of the Deane Low Trophy, which has been in Australian hands since it was first competed for in 1993. Coach Paul Temple was understandably delighted with the result, particularly in the circumstances. "It was scorching hot - very tough conditions. And to compound matters, we played on an old Astroturf field which was showing its age "But we dealt with the conditions better than Australia. It was a really good performance. I really couldn’t have wished for much more, although I know we’ll improve once we’re on a grass pitch, which is quite encouraging". The Nadia Pearl-captained squad have been training up a storm on the grass since their arrival at Tweed Heads, where they are enjoying top-class facilities in an athletes village which is also home to some rugby league teams and golfing academies at present. "It’s a great little place to be", says Temple, "and a really nice focused environment for the girls to enjoy". Making it all the sweeter was the win, which featured flashes of inspiration from White and Olivia Chance throughout proceedings, but stand-out performances from three of the squad’s quiet achievers. "Evie Millynn got to grips with the conditions better than anybody", says Temple. "She was our best performer in the first half, while Kate Loye shone in the second spell. "The player who impressed me most, though, was Jess Reddaway, in goal. She was really solid. While she didn’t have a lot to do, what she did was really effective, and her distribution was good, too". The NZ Secondary Schoolgirls take on their Australian counterparts again on Friday from 2pm NZ time, twenty-four hours prior to their final match in the three-test series. Line-up:     Reddaway; Carlton, Boyce, Berger, Head; Millynn (Stotter, 82), Loye (Carlsen, 70), Pearl; Chance (Patterson, 75), White (Ward, 82), Skilton (Rood, 60)

Rosie White - match-winner Evie Millynn - bossed the conditions Jess Reddaway - really solid Background:  Kate Loye