Engraver right on the money after all

South Africa 2010 had an octopus predicating outcomes of World Cup football games, College Sport Wellington has a trophy engraver.

It was in error that the trophy was engraved "2010 Wellington East Girls' College" a few days before the final was actually played.

Wellington East coach Eliott Brookes took the trophy to be engraved for his side's victory last season, but when he went back to collect it he was shocked to find the engraver had put 2010 rather than 2009.

"I told him that I hoped it hadn't put the mockers on us," Brookes said.

The engraver's reply was that he expected to see Brookes back after the final to put "2010 Wellington East Girls' College".

And how right he was, with Brookes' side beating Wellington Girls' 1-0 in the final last Wednesday night at Te Whaea, after captain Amanda Rasch scored a first-half goal.

For East it was their seventh title in eight years.

However, while it was Rasch's goal that clinched the game, the player of the night was team rookie Maddison Bibby, who learned just 24 hours earlier that she would be making her first XI debut in goal. Bibby came in for the injured Ronisa Lipi.

Meanwhile, two second-half goals ended nine years of waiting for the St Pat's Silverstream premier youth team. They beat Wellington College 2-1 in the final at Te Whaea after being 1-0 down at the break. "The first half we didn't play the best we could," Silverstream captain Sam Dean said.

At the break Dean made sure his players knew exactly what was expected of them and his message was direct.

"This is our second half to win. Forget that first half. Just go out and work hard.

"It was nerve-racking but we made it. I knew the team had it in them to come back."

It was fitting the winning goal for Silverstream was scored by Hamish Watson. It was his 21st goal in the premier youth competition this year and good enough for him to leave the artificial turf in Newtown with not only a winner's medal but also the golden boot trophy.

Meanwhile, in the junior final Wellington Girls' beat St Oran's 5-4. The win was a fitting farewell for coach Gail Ives, who retired after 22 years in the sport.

- © Fairfax NZ News