College soccer girls shine

Wairarapa College exceeded even their own expectations when they placed third out of the 20 teams contesting the secondary schoolgirls soccer tournament in Wanganui last week.
Their previous best finish at this event was the eighth achieved in 2005, and they might well have even made the grand final this year but for a botched semi-final draw.
Just 30 minutes prior to kick off in the semis Wairarapa College were dismayed to find their opponents there had been switched from Sacred Hearts (Lower Hutt) to top seeds Wellington Girls College.
With only very limited time to prepare for the change, Wairarapa College suffered their only loss of the tourney with Wellington Girls beating them 2-0 and leaving play-off for third and fourth.
Pool games saw Wairarapa College record three wins and a draw to finish as the top qualifier from their group. Wins were achieved over St Mary's Dio 4-0, Mana College 7-0 and Wellington High 3-1 and they drew 0-0 with Chilton St James.
In the quarter-finals Wairarapa College accounted for Havelock High 3-1 and after losing to Wellington Girls in the semis a fairly dejected side overcame a spirited Otumoetai College side from Tauranga 2-1 to claim third placing overall.
Standout players for Wairarapa College were the Rutene sisters. Kelsi and captain Sonya, and promising youngsters, Libby Noema and goalkeeper Ester Crispin.
They also benefitted from the excellent coaching of Jacky Nathu, who was praised for his contribution by captain Sonya Rutune, not only for his tactical expertise but for his ability to engender a strong team spirit.
Unfortunately up to six members of the current Wairarapa College side won't be available again next year, so the team will then enter a rebuilding phase. However, the upside is the number of talented youngsters coming through the junior grades and they should measure up well at the higher level.