31/08/2025
Wow, what a week. It had absolutely everything a coach could ask for â success and failures, mistakes and learnings, fun and a whole lot of laughs.
Day 0:
The crew was up at 6am, ready for the long trip to Auckland. With regular pit stops along the way, it took about 9 hours to arrive at our accommodation for the week.
Day 1:
The girls were up bright and early Monday morning for a jam-packed schedule of games to start the week, and what a day it was.
Game 1 was against a very good, well-experienced Pakuranga College team, who play Division 1 college football in Auckland and, unknown to us, would be one of the best teams in the competition, finishing 4th. The girls showed excellent character throughout and showed everyone the high potential this young group has, as we fell to a 3-0 loss, conceding a rebound goal and a penalty.
The team came off in excellent spirits, unaware that one of the best moments of the year was about to happen in the next game.
Game 2 was against a young team like us â Birkenhead College. We showed dominance throughout, never looking like conceding, but like all season, didnât show any killer instinct in front of goal and struggled to finish off well-worked passing moves. This game had the feel of many this season â where we were the better team all over the park, but not finishing our chances would cost us a well-deserved 3 points.
With the game still at 0-0 and time up on the clock, and that awful feeling that we wouldnât get over the line again hanging in the air, up stepped Makayla OâHara to provide one of the coolest moments in my coaching career.
A ball to the back post after a well-worked counterattack found an unmarked Makayla, who finished excellently with her left foot into the top corner with the last kick of the game â sending the sideline and team into ecstasy, with the coach jumping into the air with excitement.
This gave the young team its first competitive win of the season, and I couldnât ask for a better way to get it.
Game 3 rolled around against WhangÄrei Girlsâ High School, and the girls were still on a high after what happened in the previous game. The plan was to rotate a bit, and the squad showed what depth we had up in Auckland.
From the sideline, the game wasnât the best to watch as it was both teamsâ third game of the day, and you could tell all the players were tired. The game had 0-0 written all over it, with both teams struggling to string together any meaningful attack.
Although, halfway through the second half, Mikayla OâDonnell latched onto a great pass and finished well to give us a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, a lapse in concentration and a bit of fatigue allowed them to get a shot off, and Regan couldnât keep it out in goal.
The game finished 1-1, but we probably deserved a bit more â though unknown to us, we would get the chance to rectify this result on the last day.
As a whole, a very successful first day, and all the girls left the ground feeling very tired but overjoyed with what had happened during the day.
Day 2:
After a jam-packed first day, we found out the schedule for the week would be one game a day.
Game 4 wasnât until late morning, so the girls got a much-needed sleep-in.
Late morning rolled around, and it was time for Game 4 of the week against One Tree Hill College â who again, unknown to us, would make the final and finish 2nd overall.
Just like the first game, the girls showed excellent fight and character. Once again, we were solid at the back, which would be a trend for the week.
We walked away with a 3-0 loss, but again, the girls had their heads up, as they showed they could hold their own against one of the best teams in Auckland.
We then headed along to support the boysâ hockey team that evening, as they were also competing up in Auckland, to round off Day 2.
Day 3:
Game 5 wasnât until the afternoon, so the girls had a bit of downtime and got the chance to showcase their skills in a different sport â golf. Letâs just say, most of them should stick to football.
We turned up to play Tauhara College and quite possibly played the worst half of football all season, heading into the break 3-0 down.
After some suggestions and a bit of a rev-up by the coach, the girls headed out and did a full 180 â completely dominated the second half, and had a Year 9, Rayne OâDonnell, score her first goal of the season.
Although we lost the game 3-1, we showed the Waicol way in the second half and won that half 1-0, which was a huge positive.
We then headed back, got showered and changed, and went out for dinner as it was our captainâs, Roseâs, birthday.
Day 4:
Thursday rolled around, and there were some sore and tired bodies, but we battled through.
Game 6 was against Papatoetoe High School, and the coach had received intel that they park the bus â and did they what.
We controlled the ball all game, again never looking like conceding, but really struggled to create any decent chances with almost all their 11 players behind the ball.
The game ended 0-0, which meant penalties.
Unfortunately, we ended up losing the shootout 4-1, with the experience the opposition gained winning their previous game on pens coming to the fore.
Heartbreak rolled through the camp as we couldnât get over the line â but again, unknown to the group, the heartbreak and emotion would shape us to deal with what would come in 24 hours.
We finished the day with a quick shopping trip and then a team evening, where we saw players really come out of their shell and welcomed the new members to the team.
The draw came out late that night â and it would be a rematch with WhangÄrei in our last match.
Day 5:
We woke up Friday morning ready to do one better than the first time we played WhangÄrei, and the day didnât disappoint.
A real battle, with the momentum shifting back and forth throughout. Again, the defence showed how solid they had been all week, and the midfield, probably playing their best game as a unit, created good openings â but again, the killer instinct up front was lacking, and dĂŠjĂ vu felt like it was setting in.
The game finished 0-0, which meant extra time.
Extra time flew by without either team really doing anything â so that would mean penalties again for the second day in a row.
Although we missed penalties the day before, the coach stuck with the same lineup for the first five.
They missed their first, hitting the crossbar. Up stepped Abi, who calmly slotted hers in, giving us the advantage.
They scored their next, and so did we â Caitlyn placing hers in.
They missed their next, with an excellent save onto the post from our goalkeeper. Olivia then scored hers to give us a 3-1 advantage.
They scored again, and we missed â 3-2.
They scored again â 3-3 â but all we needed to do was score to win.
Up stepped Eliose, a Year 9 who, when asked, said she would take a penalty.
Eliose slotted the ball into the back of the net and sent the team and sideline into ecstasy for the second time that week, meaning we won the shootout 4-3.
The perfect ending to a great week for this young group.
We then hosted an awards night where all members received an award for something, but we did three very serious awards:
MVP: Abi Whitehead-Kai â Abi had an excellent week, never dropping below an 8/10 and being a key member in the teamâs success.
Most Improved Over the Week: Beth Bramwell-Cooke â Beth had a standout week and showed excellent improvement, solidifying herself as a key member of a very solid backline.
Dick of the Tournament: Eliose Bryant â This was easy. Eliose did a lot to deserve this award and wore the medal with pride.
Day 6:
The longest day of the trip â travel day.
We left at 10am and arrived back at 7pm, but it felt like it took a lifetime.
Special mention to Amelia Hunter, who kept me entertained and awake from the passenger seat and made the trip that little bit more enjoyable.
As we pulled into Masterton, the van filled with excitement â we had made it.
I couldnât be more proud of this team and the way they represented Wairarapa College over the last week.
We proved that this young group has a heap of potential, and the skyâs the limit for these girls.
I wish all the Year 13s the best of luck in their next chapter of life.
Planning for 2026 is already well underway.
Signing off 2025,
Coach Paddy
