The NZ Secondary Schoolgirls retained the Deane Low Trophy in Sydney on 3 October, clinching an 8-7 aggregate victory with a storming 5-2 second leg triumph over their Australian counterparts, after going down 5-3 in the first leg encounter twenty-four hours previously. Wednesday's Bicentennial Park encounter started well for Gareth Turnbull's charges, Shontelle Smith affording the visitors a thirteenth minute lead. But an own goal soon put paid to that advantage, and Georgia Keen fired the home side in front soon after, upon receipt of a sharp cross. On the stroke of half-time, Joanne Martino made it 3-1 to the Australian Secondary Schoolgirls, and five minutes after the break, Keen bagged her second to leave the Kiwi side with a mountain to climb. Lauren Dabner led the charge, scoring twice in as many minutes twenty minutes from time - the first a stunning strike - to leave the Australians looking rather uncomfortable 4-3 leaders. Clare Woods gave the hosts a two-goal advantage when netting from a corner, a strike which earned the Australians a come-from-behind 5-3 victory in the first of the two matches between these trans-Tasman schoolgirl rivals. The second took place twenty-four hours later at the Harrie Denning Soccer Complex, with the Australians needing to avoid defeat by a two-goal margin to relieve their New Zealand rivals of the Deane Low Trophy. Things couldn't have begun better for the hosts, with Carla Trimboli - daughter of former Socceroo Paul, a two-time Johnny Warren Medal winner - potting a thirteenth minute penalty to leave Gareth Turnbull's charges with it all to do if they were to return home with the silverware. Do it they did! And how! Relentless pressure forced

the Australians to concede an own goal ten minutes before half-time, and within three minutes, Mikayla Wieblitz had given the Kiwis a 2-1 lead. By half-time, they'd doubled it, Lauren Dabner and Steph Trowill, with a stunning volley from outside the penalty area on the stroke of the half-time whistle, ensuring New Zealand went to the dressing rooms 4-1 to the good. Half-way through the second half, Chloe Knott made it 5-1 - 8-6 on aggregate! But there was still time for Australia to claw their way back, and a nervous finish was in store once Demi Koulizakis pulled a goal back. But that was all the Australians could muster, and come the final whistle, their Kiwi counterparts were celebrating a 5-2 victory on the day, and an 8-7 aggregate triumph to retain the Deane Low Trophy. The tourists conclude their four-game week with a clash against W-League side Sydney FC at Hills Sports High School from 7.45pm NZ time on Friday. Details: Australia 5 (G. Keen (2), J. Martino, C. Woods, "oggie"), New Zealand 3 (S. Smith (13), L. Dabner (70, 71))  HT 3-1 Line-up:  Fuimaono (Nicol, 46); Robert (Hamblett, 65), Hayes (Anthony, 65), Molloy, Wilson; Wieblitz (Kraakman, 60), Knott (Los, 60), Kolose (Boobyer, 60), Dabner; Smith, Leong (Trowill, 60) Australia 2 (C. Trimboli (pen), D. Koulizakis), New Zealand 5 ("oggie" (35), M. Wieblitz (38), L. Dabner (42), S. Trowill (45), C. Knott (66))  HT 1-4 Line-up:  Nicol (Fuimaono, 46); Robert, Hamblett (Wilson, 35), Anthony, Molloy (Hayes, 70); Kraakman (Kolose, 46), Los (Wieblitz, 20), Boobyer (Knott, 70), Dabner; Leong, Trowill (Smith, 75)