The New Zealand Secondary Schoolgirls squad completed their unbeaten tour of Australia in emphatic fashion on December 22, crushing a Gold Coast XI 6-0 before making a mad dash to the airport for the flight home.
Originally scheduled to be played on Monday night, the match fell victim to the adverse weather which has plagued the Gold Coast in recent days, and another attempt to play the game on Tuesday afternoon suffered the same fate.
The all-clear to play was finally given on Wednesday, and the Kiwis unleashed their pent-up energy with a vengeance. Holly Patterson made the initial breakthrough in the 22nd minute, and Steph Skilton made it 2-0 five minutes before the interval.
Half-time substitute Rosie White needed just ten minutes to get her name on the scoresheet, and fellow replacement Kate Loye joined the growing list of goalscorers around the hour mark.
Seventeen-year-old White scored her 75th goal in top-flight football - a phenomenal statistic - fifteen minutes from time, while Olivia Chance wrapped up the scoring four minutes later to send the new holders of the Deane Low Trophy home for Christmas in buoyant mood.
Line-up: Reddaway; Carlton (Ward, 46), Berger (Millynn, 46), Boyce, Head; Carlsen (Loye, 46), Pearl, Stotter; Patterson (Rood, 46), Skilton (White, 46), Chance
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