09/09/2026
🩷🤍💙First XI Football - duel title winners in 2026
The First XI Football has had it's most successful season for many years, winning both the Connetics Girls' Premier Competition (The Seaward Shield) and the Lotto Sportswear Satellite Tournament that was competed for during the recent Winter Tournament Week.
The team completed a strong season in the local premier competition by winning the final 4-2 vs. a very strong Avonside Girls' High School team. The star performer in the final was Lio Gunther, who scored a hattrick of goals, all from outside the penalty area. The other goal scored was Meila Farrelly, who pounced on a goal keeper error at a corner and turned the ball in from close range. The team turned around a 4-1 loss against Avonside during the regular competition, and were deserved winners on the day.
Next up for the team was a long trip down to Invercargill to compete in the Lotto Sportswear Satellite Tournament. The team arrived in Invercargill to very cold, wet and windy conditions and played through some atrocious weather on the first two days of the tournament, topping our group with 4 wins and a goal difference of +33. The team beat a spirited Roncalli in the semi-final, before facing a young but very competitive St. Hilda's Collegiate from Dunedin. St. Hilda's took the lead midway through the first half, but goals to Lio Gunther, Evie Hill and Millie Wilson sealed a 3-1 victory. Captain Millie Wilson, who played over 70 games for the First XI since Year 9 got to lift the trophy in her last game for the team. Maddie Gage, also in Year 13 finished her season on a high note as well.
To round out a successful season, 4 of our players have been named in the Canterbury Pride Youth Under 18 National League team - Ella Dear, Lio Gunther, Meila Farrelly and Kaia Smith. Kaia has also been training for the past 12 months towards selection for the NZ Under 17 Women's team that are playing in the U17 World Cup in Morocco in October and November.
The team would like to thank Robin and Bee in the PE office for all their help and support during the season, Mr Anderson for stepping up when Mr Aaron was away field tripping, and lastly Ms Ockwell for travelling to Invercargill as the team manager for tournament week.