2022 Women’s National League – Grand Final Review
A football season that began with a couple of postponed cup finals way back in March finally came to an end a week before Christmas as Eastern Suburbs and Western Springs met in the Women’s National League Grand Final. A fitting finale, the two clubs who’ve bossed the WNL throughout – occupying the first and second spots of the standings at the end of every gameweek. Two teams that play some sizzling footy. Two squads full of star players both established and emerging. Mt Smart Stadium was the venue, same as the men’s final. It even stopped raining in Aotearoa for long enough to get a sunny Sunday afternoon’s game in.
Randomly, these two teams had played each other just last week, by a quirk in the fixture list. Eastern Suburbs banged out a 3-2 win that day in a similar kinda game to when they met earlier in the Natty League. Subs had won 4-2 that time. Both matches saw The ‘Burbs take the lead in the fifteenth minute and then keep on going in dominant performances, especially the first halves... although both times Western Springs were also able to rip back a couple goals against the run of play to remain in the hunt. Last week could have been quite different had they not started subbing off key players with half an hour to go and trailing by a goal. Gotta prioritise the one that matters though.
To that point, Western Springs made just one change to that starting team. Emma Pijnenburg returned to the midfield having missed her only game of the season in order to captain the club’s U17 team at the national tournament that they host. She was back so Sophia Dyer dropped back to the bench. That meant Angelique TuiSamoa in goal, a back four of Arisa Takeda and Celia Mayo at fullback outside Lily Jervis and Jaedeci Uluvili. Pijnenburg was joined by Lily Taitimu and Jess Innes in midfield. Then up front it was the dream team of Rina Hirano, Sam Tawharu, and Sofia Garcia. 22 goals between them this season.
Then again, 22 goals is only impressive if you’re not comparing them to Eastern Suburbs. Their front three for this final was Tayla O’Brien, Deven Jackson, and Nicole Mettam. Between them they scored 34 goals – exactly half of those scored by TOB alone, the league’s Golden Boot winner (despite playing a lot of that time in midfield). O’Brien was back in the team after a precautionary unused sub stint in the previous match. That meant Juliette Lucas dropped to the bench. Rachel Head was also predictably recalled following her own protective rest (though she did play off the bench last time), meaning that the Lilywhites reverted to their usual back three having tested out a quartet in that game. Head joined by Rebekah van Dort and Kenyah Brooke at the back with Brooke Bennett in goal. Erinna Wong and Olivia Page earned the wing-back spots. Charlotte Wilford-Carroll and Saki Yoshida continued in the midfield. Already named that cracking front three.
The large pitch at Mt Smart shook things up a little by adding extra space for those attacking trios to utilise. Springs love a run in behind and this seemingly boosted those opportunities. ‘Burbs love a link-up in between the lines and this seemingly boosted those opportunities too. How’d that work out as we got underway? Well surprisingly the first two moments for Suburbs came from a deep cross and a long throw... although it wasn’t long before Tayla O’Brien began drifting into pockets of room. It had been up for grabs whether she’d start in midfield with the option of moving her further forward if the game desired or up front with the option of sliding her back later if needed. It was the latter that Stephen Hoyle went with – giving them a very different central option than Lucas who is more of a pure number nine, hanging on the last defender and seeking to hold the ball up.
Wilford-Carroll blasted a volley over the top from outside the box as a corner kick was cleared in her direction. First proper shot of this final. There’d be plenty more where that came from as Eastern Suburbs stayed true to their reputation by bursting out of the starting blocks. This is a team that scored inside the opening quarter of an hour in 10 of their 14 league games. A chance almost opened up for Mettam running through after Page had headed on an under-hit goal kick. Mettam lifted it wide as Jervis came flying across to close her angle. Page also fizzed a shot just over from the corner of the area. The ‘Burbs were rolling. Pretty soon the ‘Burbs were leading.
O’Brien got the goal-scoring move going with a quick throw-in down the right. She then linked with Mettam for the return ball and took it all the way to the line where she squared low for Deven Jackson. Takeda and Jervis kinda got in each other’s way keeping either from making the clearance. Then DJ stabbed her shot off the post... and into the back of a diving/helpless TuiSamoa for an own goal in the ninth minute of this championship decider. So unlucky from AT to get stuck with an oggie she could do nothing about. Having said that, the goal did arrive amidst some heavy sustained pressure. It weren’t no fluke.
For the third time in a row, Western Springs would have to play from behind against Subs... but they knew that if they didn’t let it get away from them early then they’d have their chances to get back into it. They did those other two times, at least. And they almost levelled the game straight away as Hirano dashed ahead of Brooke to take the ball and slid a lovely low cross towards Tawharu who couldn’t quite reach it. Springs did have some decent spells of possession dodging the Lilywhites press with help from the bigger pitch. A chip over the top from Takeda to Garcia led the American winger a bit wider than she’d have preferred but her shot still wasn’t far wide off the left boot. Then came the best chance of the lot for Springs as Tawharu dropped in to collect the ball then spun and whipped a genius reverse ball into the path of Rina Hirano... only for Van Dort to step across with a block that took the shot wide.
It was a solid response from the Hoops. Garcia burned her marker down the left to slide a ball across which Bennett gobbled up sharply. But although the shots had dried up somewhat for Suburbs since the goal, the interplay between Mettam/TOB/Jackson was still as silky as ever and pretty soon they were back where they wanted to be. Yoshida nudged an effort off target... then the play almost broke for her again until a great denial by Jervis at the last instant. Jervis then got cleaned up by O’Brien on the slide as she progressed things. Plenty of funk in this final, folks. Competitors abound.
By now Eastern Suburbs were blitzing things again. Jackson flashed some mean footwork but crossed to nobody. Yet amidst all that an early through ball from Tawharu hit Garcia on the run for Springs, that’s her area, and SG’s drilled shot didn’t miss by much. Just couldn’t quite convert. Then we were back up the other end where Mettam aimed one towards the top corner but TuiSamoa made a leaping punched save.
Eventually that pressure tolled again in the 42nd min. A stunner of a turn from Jackson rolling past Jervis took her into shooting position and although her attempt was blocked by Takeda the rebound fell conveniently for Saki Yoshida to slip it hope for 2-0.
Another goal that felt unfortunate for Western Springs. Also another goal that came off the back of Eastern Suburbs setting up camp in the danger zone and asking question after pesky question. Not to mention that this was the third time already that Yoshida – a central midfielder – had ended up in the penalty area for a big chance. Off-ball movement and attacking intent from the ‘Burbs. You can’t contain it.
2-0 heading into the break... not where Springs wanted to be but hard to argue it wasn’t a fair reflection of the game so far. Would have been a fair reflection of last week’s game at the same stage too except on that day WS were able to whip out a couple nice goals against the run of play. That was proving tough against a Suburbs defence that had turned up on a mission – Rebekah van Dort especially, the captain was dominating the show. In fact you’d be hard pressed to find any Suburbs player not dishing up a vintage performance. But if Western Springs could score next then that’d all change in an instant.
The telly coverage delivered some cheeky clues from the assistant coaches during the break. The half-time suggestion from Springs was that they needed to play higher up the pitch. Suburbs on the other hand wanted braver and better possession... which felt harsh after an excellent half but then they did miss out on that final ball a couple too many times. Grand finals are for ruthlessness. Gotta win them when they’re there to be won and leave as little hope as possible for any opposition comebacks.
Thus Deven Jackson immediately resumed skipping past defenders, leading to a shot that she pinged over the top. Rachel Head did well to shield Hirano off the ball as she attacked a pass into the area, then Head stepped up again with a challenge to stop Garcia. That’s what Springs were looking for but Suburbs were up to the task. Next thing Mettam overlapped on the right and cut back for Jackson whose shot was well saved, before O’Brien gathered up the rebound and got a stinger away that ended up bouncing back off the post and hit TuiSamoa again, thankfully this time her luck was better and she avoided the same outcome as before. Not sure how the Lilywhites didn’t score there but they didn’t.
If it was going to happen for Western Springs then it needed to happen soon. They needed to rattle the ‘Burbs before they scored that otherwise inevitable third goal. A huge chance emerged when Pijnenburg picked out an amazing pass towards Tawharu peeling to the left. Pijnenburg produces at least one jaw-dropping pass every game and this was her grand final special. Unfortunately Tawharu couldn’t bury it despite a pretty sweet hit. Lashed it off the near post, woodwork rattled but opponents stable. So close... but given the state of the game she really needed to score that one. The time for almosts had long since faded into the past.
Instead it was Eastern Suburbs who put the next goal away. It was coming, let’s be honest. A magical run from Tayla O’Brien cutting between two defenders before crossing from the byline. The ball wasn’t actually going to do any damage until TuiSamoa dove out to slap it away and sent it straight towards Deven Jackson. Nightmare material. Easy mahi for DJ from that area and it was 3-0. 53 minutes gone.
Ryan Faithfull went to his bench as soon as that thing hit the net, bringing on Sophia Dyer in a direct swap for Tawharu. Dyer almost made an instant impact with a shot from the right edge that Bennett caught on the dive. There was that word ‘almost’ again for WS. Meanwhile there would have been a tap-in for O’Brien had Taitimu not been there to block TOB on the turn. Jackson also struck one on target from the perimeter but TuiSamoa saved comfortably.
Eastern Subs summoned their first changes after an hour when Annie Byrne and Nicole Cooper were chucked on for Page and Wilford-Carroll. Byrne was a straight swap at RWB. Cooper went up front with TOB dropping deeper (although they mixed and matched). Springs also got frisky with Kitty Jacob sent on for Pijnenburg. This was the first game that Jacob had played all National League, having been away at uni in the States since going close to making the U20 World Cup squad (which Pijnenburg did get selected for). Normally a defender, here Jacob was used as a target up front.
Jackson and O’Brien have been burning teams all season and they wasn’t easing up in the final. A sumptuous little dink in behind by DJ had TOB about to pounce until TuiSamoa smothered the ball at her feet. Such a good pass from Jackson. Eastern Suburbs were well in control although Springs did work a few things with direct passes towards runners down the channels. That led to a few corner kicks and Bennett dropped one such delivery amidst a crowd only for Wong to clear it away. Then Bennett dropped the next one too (one of the few weaknesses in BB’s game is that she’s not particularly tall for a goalie), but this time she was able to scrape the ball away as she fell backwards then Wong and Cooper both came up with blocks before RVD hacked it to safety. No idea how Springs didn’t score there. Some days you can’t help but feel that destiny’s not gonna be your friend.
Only twenty minutes to go. Troubling scenes ensued as Mettam seemed to pull a hamstring or something, whatever it was it looked painful and she had to be assisted off the field. Juliette Lucas came on in her place while Arya Blackler also replaced Tayla O’Brien at the same time. TOB, remember, had been under an injury cloud this last fortnight... not that you could tell from her performance at Mt Smart. But Blackler was also a more defensively minded midfield replacement and with the damage already done at 3-0 it was time to ensure they kept it tidy. Springs also sent on Helena O’Connor and Maia Lythe in place of Mayo and Taitimu.
Eastern Suburbs did more than keep it tidy. In the 82nd minute Deven Jackson combined with Lucas, keeping her run going to collect the return ball. Jackson’s first shot was saved. Her second shot was blocked (Takeda again). Her third shot had the net all in a flutter. If at first you don’t succeed, as they say. Deven Jackson with two goals and two assists in a grand final. Have a day, DJ.
At 4-0 it was all over but the shouting. Springs still wanted a goal for their efforts and threatened exactly that as Takeda faked a free kick shot and Innes chipped into the box instead, with both Garcia and Jervis attacking that thing only to see the offside flag go up. Aimee Atkins swapped in for Wong for ES, who even four goals up with five to go still had Van Dort stepping out of defence seeking overloads. Relentless. Coach Stephen Hoyle was an active sight on the sideline yelling out instructions for most of the game.
Even in the closing stages they still wanted a fifth goal. They never did get it... although they did keep that clean sheet – a pleasing one for the coach considering they’d leaked two goals in each of their last four games. Cooper went into the book for taking down Hirano on the counter, breaking up the last hint of any consolation for Western Springs. And there you had it. Eastern Suburbs are the 2022 Women’s National League champions.
They were the best team all season and they were the best team by a safe margin in the final. A 4-0 result didn’t even flatter them, they were brilliant. Deven Jackson was unplayable. Rebekah Van Dort was unsurpassable. Tayla O’Brien and Nicole Mettam and Saki Yoshida all had superb games. They got good impacts off the bench as well. There was nobody amongst their squad who delivered a subpar performance and to be able to say that in a grand final shows some immense mentality and preparation. Saving one of their very best for when it mattered most, no matter how long this season had dragged on for.
Deven Jackson was awarded the Player of the Match award in one of the easier decisions ever made. Two goals and two assists. Grand final goals don’t count towards the overall league standings but if they did then this would’ve lifted DJ up to 14 goals overall and ahead of Bree Johnson for second place... behind Tayla O’Brien’s 17 bangers. TOB was also awarded her Golden Boot during the post-game presentation.
Then we also had some typical NZF shenanigans as Renee Bacon of Capital was given the MVP trophy. This despite the fact that O’Brien was undoubtedly the best player all season. Bacon had a great season but, you know... levels. Who’s more valuable than the best player for the best team (who also scored the most goals and was third-equal for assists)? Another casualty of a terrible, terrible voting system. But we’ll save that yarn for another place. Tayla O’Brien is the Rightful MVP. We all know it.
It’s interesting to think that Eastern Suburbs only finished third in the NRFL Premier Division over winter. On attack they were every bit as dangerous as they continued to be throughout the National League but defensively they weren’t all there. Bringing in keeper Brooke Bennett made a huge difference. Plus the more they played together, they more they mastered the system. This lot smothered teams. They suffocated them with their fluid movement and swarming starts – those early goals meaning they played from in front pretty much every game.
That’s how the ‘Burbs were able to win ten in a row to start the NL. Their only two defeats were slippery ones, losing 2-1 in the torrential rain against a resurgent Cantabs team then going down 2-1 again a fortnight later away to Southern with the winning goal being scored right at the death after they’d been reduced to ten women due to a flurry of injuries that left them without any remaining subs. That could have rattled some teams... but not this team. This grand final left no doubt in anybody’s minds as to who the top team in the nation is. Worthy champions. Up the ‘Burbs.
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