The Wānaka AFC U10 girls’ team was victorious at the South Island Girls U10 Festival in Rolleston on Sunday (October 1) - the first win for the junior club at a South Island level.

The Wānaka AFC girls’ football programme has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2021, with the weekend’s victory a culmination of all the hard work put in by the girls, coaches and parents, the club said in a statement.

A squad of 11 girls and a large number of supporters trekked north for the club’s first multi-day, all girl’s tournament. 

The team was drawn from across the four all girls’ under 9 and under 10 teams, with the addition of two girls who played in mixed teams during the Central Otago season. 

On the first day of the tournament the Wānaka girls faced one of the strongest teams (Waimak Black) first up on a grass field. The girls played well but went down 3-1.

The next two games were on turf at Foster Park. For a number of the girls it was their first experience of this surface, and they responded well, with two resounding wins over the hosts Selwyn 8-0 then a complete 12-1 performance against St Albans Shirley. 

Wānaka won their quarter final against another (much bigger) St Albans Shirley side, with Harriet Grant’s goal mid-way through the second half finishing the scoring at 5-2. The Wānaka team remained in control and ran out comfortable 5-2 winners in their next match against the Halswell U11 team.

The tournament culminated in a final against Cashmere Tech Aqua which had outlasted Waimak in the other semifinal. Wānaka’s solid defense between the sticks locked Cashmere out and the game finished 1-0, leaving Wānaka the South Island champions.   

The team members thanked the club for its support in getting them to the tournament, and all those involved with their football journey over the past three seasons in particular. 

Wānaka AFC thanked the club sponsors and RealNZ, Cardrona Distillery, Aspiring Guides, Honeysticks, Francesca’s, Tititea Steakhouse, Black Peak and Mitre 10 for their assistance with fundraising.

The South Island Girls U10 Festival took place at Foster Park, Rolleston, from September 29 - October 1, 2023.

PHOTO: Supplied