Four different clubs crowned champions in 23rd Proctor Park Challenge
The curtains have come down on another successful Proctor Park Challenge, which brought over 1000 female footballers to Bathurst on Saturday and Sunday.
All up, 72 teams competed in the two-day annual pre-season tournament – which marked its 23rd edition – for under 12s, 14s, 15s and 16s girls, with four different teams crowned champions across the age groups.
Bathurst District Football coaching coordinator Phil Bromhead, who also coached both the under 12s and under 14s Bathurst teams, said the event was a good indication of how the local clubs are preparing ahead of the 2021 season.
“From a Bathurst perspective, it’s a good indication of how we’re travelling against the big Sydney clubs,” he said.
“Often it’s hard work out here, particularly for me coaching the 12s and 14s, needing to chop and change between the two teams to make up the numbers.
“For player development, it was sensational. The girls live for football, the ones that want to be here this time of year when it’s 20-odd degrees. Some have played six games in two days, so it means a lot to them, when they’re developing and concentrating on their futures.”
Unfortunately none of the Bathurst clubs were able to progress to the playoffs, and the Western NSW FC under 14s team had no luck either.
In the under 12s grand final, South Coast Flame Yellow defeated APIA Leichhardt in a penalty shootout after the scores were locked at nil-all at the end of normal time and golden goal extra time. A clutch save from Emma Shallcross would deliver South Coast the victory on penalties 4-2.
Saturday marked the first time Sutherland Shire FA’s Sky under 14s team had played 11-a-side, but by Sunday afternoon they were champions, after defeating Albury-Wodonga 1-0. A majority of the squad would actually be eligible to play under 13s, with goalkeeper Indigo Donnelly only 11-years-old.
Coach Jonathan O’Hara was full of praise for his team following the win.
“We came here with not much expectation. We just wanted to play some good football,” he said.
“These girls train really hard and the rewards, they come. They played really good football all weekend and they thoroughly deserved the victory, that’s for sure.”
O’Hara has taken over the coaching reins from Brian Parker – a man he paid credit to after full-time. Parker had led the team to a under 12s grand final defeat at last year’s Proctor Park Challenge.
“They’ll come back next year and play 14s. The goalkeeper – Indy Donnelly – is not even 12 yet and in the quarter final, she was just amazing, some of the best saves I’ve seen from a kid that age.
“And then there’s two other girls that have just turned 12, so it’s a really remarkable result.”
In the under 15s decider, St George FC came out on top against Wagga City Wanderers 2-0, with goals from Sienna Borrill and Mya Callil.
A penalty shootout decided the under 17s grand final, with Northbridge defeating South Coast 4-3 on penalties after the scores were locked at nil-all at the end of normal time and extra time. Northbridge’s Evie Hatzantonis was the girl that stepped up to score the winning penalty.
GRAND FINAL RESULTS AND SCORERS:
- UNDER 12s: South Coast Flame Yellow 0 defeated APIA Leichhardt 0 on penalties 4-2
- UNDER 14s: Sutherland Shire FA Sky 1 (Mikayla Shore) defeated Albury-Wodonga FA 0
- UNDER 15s: St George FC 2 (Sienna Borrill, Mya Callil) defeated Wagga City Wanderers 0
- UNDER 17s: Northbridge 0 defeated South Coast Flame 0 on penalties 4-3
