Over the past week, the top 32 girls teams in NZ travelled from across the country to the Lotto Premier Football Tournament held in Taupo.  Central football had 4 teams in attendance this year who performed extremely well. 
 
Palmerston North Girls' High School made it through to the Semifinals for the first time and had a tough game against Epsom Girls' for the 3rd-Place Playoff.  They started the scoring going ahead1-0 and sustained this until just after halftime.  Unfortunately, the toll of a long week caught up with them and they were unable to hold out Epsom, allowing them to come back scoring 2 goals in the 2nd half to take the score to 2-1.  Molly Woodhead was named as the Most Valuable Player for Palmerston North Girls’ High School. 

New Plymouth Girls' High School also did extremely well and were unfortunate to come up against Baradene in a playoff for the top 8, the result from that game ending 2-1.  Baradene were the eventual winners of the tournament and topping Hamilton Girls' 3-1.  This was the only loss for NPGHS throughout their week of fixtures.  Being knocked out of the top 8 by a top side meant that the best placing they could achieve was 9th.  On the final day, NPGHS had to play off for this spot against St Kentigern’s (the 2018 tournament winners).  New Plymouth Girls' scored first through Jenna Barry, the possession and territory were all in New Plymouth's favour, but they were unable to put it in the back of the net.  Unfortunately, New Plymouth conceded a goal against the run of play late in the match, resulting in a tie.  The game then went to penalties in which St Kentigern’s ultimately prevailed.  As a result of this narrow defeat, New Plymouth claimed10th in the country, with the school's tournament most valuable player being awarded to Eve Barry.  

Napier Girls' were the next best team from our region being placed 12th in New Zealand.  Napier and New Plymouth had played off for placings on Thursday and this proved to be the first time in over 10 years that the two teams had met each other on the grass.  Napier battled it out with Wellington Girls' in their 11-12 playoff.  The result finishing 3-1 to the Wellington side after a competitive encounter.  Napier girl's had placed 29th in 2017 and through the hard work that has gone on at the school and with the current crop of players, it is great to see them making a significant leap this year. At the tournament's end, Napier girl's most valuable player was Chloe O’Rorke.  

This year a new trophy was introduced for the tournament, holding the name of the Trevor Osten Memorial Trophy.  Trevor was the coach of the Wellington East Girls' side for a number of years and led the team to 2 titles during his stint at the helm.  He was a member of the NZSS executive committee for a number of years but sadly passed away in 2017.  In his memory, the trophy was introduced by NZSS Girls' football and was awarded to the team that finished 17th at the tournament.  The winner of this award must qualify for the second half of the draw after pool play but then go on to win every game.  Sacred Heart did well to gain the opportunity to play for this inaugural trophy.  They went up again against  Westlake Girls' from Auckland.  The game was a close battle, but Westlake came away with the rewards after a 1-0 finish, confirming Sacred Heart as 18th place finishers at the tournament.   Sacred Heart had a wonderful run increasing their NZ placing by 10 spots, having placed 27th in 2017.  Jana Niedermayer was named as the tournament's most valuable player for Sacred Heart.  

To view the final tournament placings please visit the NZSS website at:

Click here

(NZSS Taupo Review Courtesy of Lisa Chubb - NPGHS)
Article added: Monday 17 September 2018