2006 in Review

18/07/06

Whakatane Chiropractic Centre Women travelled to Kawerau for the latest chapter in the derby history between these two Eastern Bay Clubs.
In conditions that can only be described as perfect with nice warm weather and a dry flat field the game had the makings of another classic.
Strong tough defence seemed to be the order of the day. With both teams boasting two of the leagues best strikers, it took some tight defence from both teams to keep the action away from the keepers.
Whakatane were playing some of their best football all year with well constructed lead up feeding Monique Lowry who tried her hardest to break through. It wasn’t until the 40th minute the deadlock was broken. Whakatane were awarded a free kick inside there own half. Laura Swan floated a long ball over the Kawerau defence for Monique to run onto, she just managed to out sprint the defence and calmly placed the ball past the keeper to give the visitor the lead which they maintained going to the break.
The second was much the same as the first with good football through the middle of the field and dogged defence keeping the strikers at bay. With 20mins to go disaster struck for the visitors when Monique left the field with a suspected torn hamstring.
To their credit Whakatane didn’t switch into defensive mode, but continued  the same pattern and managed to create another chance when the ball came out of the Kawerau defence to Sacha Rothwell who let fly, unfortunately the ball just dropped over the cross bar. The visitors managed to hang on to there slim lead to take the win and 3 points.
It was very hard to choose a player of the day, with so many stand out players, Wendy Bryenton and Rhonda Good worked hard up and down their lines, Sharron Wardlaw and Sacha Rothwell linked well with each other and Monique up front but Player of the Day went to one of the defence who ran, chased, tackled all day helping the keep a clean sheet. Trudy Assink

Whakatane Chriopracters womens vs KahuKura

Whakatane Chiropractic Womens Team travelled to Rotorua on Sunday to take on Kahukura in their latest League clash. Whakatane was without their strong midfield pair of Sharon Wardlaw and Robyn Young so the game was going to be a tough one.After a weeks worth of rain the rest of the grounds in ‘Vegas’ were closed, so it was quite a surprise to the find the field in good condition.
Whakatane struggled early with some new combinations and found themselves under constant attack from a home side that passed the ball well. It was only the wood work and good saves from keeper Mishka Lowry to keep the visitor in the game. Once Whakatane settled them selves down and started finding feet with passes, they then started to threaten the home sides defence.
The first chance fell to Laura Swan after some good work by Monique Lowry out wide. Monique beat her marker and squared a lovely ball from the left to Laura. Unfortunately a Kahukura defender managed to get a foot in and block the shot. Shortly after form the other side of the park Monique played a similar ball to an unmarked Laura who made no mistake giving the visitors the lead. This gave Whakatane a little more confidence, and 10 mins later Monique ran on to a well played ball from Celina Saville. Monique beat the offside trap had time to round the keeper to give Whakatane a 2 nil lead at the break.

The second half was much of the same; Kahukura passed well but were unable to break through a determined visitor defence line allowing Mishka to easily take the long range efforts. Whakatane held on to keep a clean sheet at take the three points.

Kahukura were unlucky not to get a result as they clearly played the better football, but that doesn’t mean Whakatane were lucky to win. The Girls defended well and took the chances given to them so in the end deserved the win. Stand out players were Rhonda Good who every week improves, Sacha Rothwell and Celina Saville for their uncompromising work in the centre of the park, Jess Stewart who for here size battled well above here class, But it was Lisa Reeve who taclked and chased everything to get the Coach’s nod for Player of the Day….

The Girls have next week off due to Queens Birthday weekend, and are at Home to Tauranga City United #2 on June 11th  

Whakatane Womens vs Taupo

Whakatane womens travelled away to Taupo and came away with a point after a 1 - 1 draw.
Monique Lowry scored the equiliser just before halftime while Sacha Rothwell was unluck to score the winner after her attempt was ruled offside.
The second half saw good football played but neither side was able to get the upperhand to take the win.



Anna Cochrane watches Laura Swan show perfect kicking technique.


Lisa Reeves blocks another attack.


The halftime talk.


Monique turns, she shoots!......

.....and scores!   

Whakatane Womens vs Tauranga City United

Whakatane Chiropractic Centre Women’s knew that this week’s game would be a tough one. Tauranga City United 1st team travelled to Rex Morpeth with a reputation of being a good, drilled, skilful side.

The game started off well for Whakatane with the midfield/ defence allowing nothing through. Whakatane adapted their formation to snub out any threat from the visitors play makers, restricting them to long range attempts which never really troubled keeper Mishka Lowry. It was Whakatane themselves who had the real first chance of the game when Robyn Young broke through the defensive line giving here a 1v1 opportunity, unfortunately she didn’t strike the ball well allowing the Tauranga keeper to make an easy save. The rest of the half continued as a real ‘battle’ through the middle of the park,

Half Time 0-0

The second half continued the same as the first neither team allowing the other to gain the advantage. Whakatane were starting to look more dangerous of the two with and injured Monique Lowry starting to become a nuisance to the Tauranga backline. But it was the visitors who managed to break the deadlock on the hour mark. The ball was played into their danger ‘women’, who turned her defender well and let fly from distance. The ball just dropped under the cross bar giving Mishka little chance in goal. But to their credit, the girls were determined not to lose this match and pushed on. Within minutes they were rewarded when Robyn Young again broke through the visitor’s defence creating another 1v1. With her final touch, she gave the keeper a chance of saving it, but a determined Young kept going and with both players colliding, the ball managed to bounce off the Whakatane midfielder and roll across the line bringing the scores level.

On the 70 min mark Whakatane went ahead with some nice skill from Monique Lowry, with this she beat the defence and gave here a 1v1 of her own. She drew the keeper out of goal, creating an opening on the side, pushing the ball home. With 15mins to full time Tauranga finally managed to break through the home sides defence, Mishka pulled of a great 1v1 save only to have the ball fall to other striker who found herself with an open goal to bring the score level once again. And that’s the way it finished.

Full Time 2-2

The girls were happy with this result as on the day it was hard to separate who should have/ could have taken all three points.

Standout players for the home side were the injured Monique Lowry for here sensible work up front, and Sacha Rothwell for filling the roll as a defensive midfielder, but the LAZER PHOTOGRAPHY - Player of the Day went to Robyn Young for her never say die work rate in midfield……

Whakatane Womens vs Otumoetai

Whakatane Chiropractic Centre Women’s travelled to take on a youthful Otumoetai in their league clash on Sunday. Otumaoetai have been touted as a front runner for the championship this year, but to do so, they would have to firstly see off the defending champs who don’t want to surrender their crown. The field was very soft and heavy after a weeks worth of bad weather. This game saw Whakatane missing their goal scoring dynamo Monique Lowry through a troubling hamstring injury but saw the return of a past player in Mackela Rusling, and the introduction of former Trident High school member Robyn Young.

The game started with Otumoetai applying long periods of pressure on the Whakatane defence. After 10 mins the home side went ahead with a well taken shot from outside the goal box. Whakatane had a chance with some long range efforts themselves, but unfortunately none found the target as they sailed over the goal. After 20 minutes the visitors found themselves 2 down when the defence failed to clear another long range effort which was well saved by keeper Mishka Lowery. Just before the break Whakatane went a further goal behind when Otumoetai’s play maker was able to stand off three tough challenges and get a shot off that left the keeper little chance of saving.

Half time score 3 – 0

Whakatane’s keeper was substituted during the break through injury so Anna Cochram donned the gloves in replacement. The second half again saw extended periods of dominance by the home team and if it wasn’t for some great defensive work, we could have seen the score blow out to more than the 3 goals scored in the second half.
Full time Score 6-0 to Otumoetai

Even though this seemed to be a whitewash score line the girls battled all game giving everything they had, with the skipper Sharon Wardlaw telling her girls after, she was proud of the way they kept trying.

Two players stood out for their efforts, Robyn Young who popped up regularly in defence and attack and Player of the Day, Laura Helmbright for her work in Defence.

Whakatane Womens vs Ngongotaha

For the second week running the weather gods have not liked the Women's game. Whakatane Chiropractic Centre women's travelled to a bleak looking Rotorua to take on Ngongotaha. In conditions what can only be described as awfully wet, it was going to be a tough battle with not much enjoyment for the football purest. Whakatane played well at times but let themselves down delivering the final pass. The home team had some skilful young players up front which kept the Whakatane defence occupied for most of the match. It was a opportunity less first half resulting in honours even at the switch. The Second half started in bizarre circumstances, with a yellow card being shown to the Whakatane keeper for not correctly informing the referee there had been a swap at half time. A learning curve for all involved. Ngongotaha continued to feed their forwards and the visitors repelled them restricting them to long range shots. With the game looking as if it would end up a nil all draw, the home team managed to finally get in behind the Whakatane defence. The keeper challenged well to stop the shot but the loose ball wasn’t cleared and was 'toed' in to give the home team the lead. Whakatane looked dejected but to their credit never gave up. When Sharon Wardlaw was bought down 25 yards out from the Ngongotaha goal the visitors felt they had a chance to level. With what can only be described as a glorious free kick Wardlaw beat the keeper to bring the scores level. The game finshed the same way it started, even.

Player of the day went to Laura Swan for her work in stopping the onslaught. Mention also has to go to Wendy Bryenton for her work alongside Laura.