The NSW Country representative side recently won the National 14 years girls age soccer title after defeating Queensland in the final at Coffs Harbour.
The team was made up of girls from all over country NSW and for the first time a Far South Coast girl was in the team.
For Bega’s Samantha Blacka, this is the highlight of her soccer career to date and she thanks her coach, Steve Roach, her grandparents for taking her to Coffs Harbour, the Bega Devils Soccer Club and her parents for their support.
Far South Coast Association officials are also very proud of the way Samantha represented the Association.
The National Championships was contested by nine teams representing the ACT, NSW City, NSW Country, Northern NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.
NSW Country playing schedule was -(Day 1) Tasmania won 11 to 0; (Day 2) South Australia won 5 to 0; (Day 3) Victoria won 3 to 0; (Day 4) NSW City 4 to 1; (Day 5) Game 1, Queensland lost 4 to 3; Game 2 Western Australia won 4 to 0; (Day 6) Rest day.
The team finished in second place overall, with 30 goals for and only 5 goals scored against, with 5 wins and 1 loss.
They had to wait until ACT and Queensland played to see which team they were to play in the final and Queensland came out the winners.
This meant NSW Country had a rematch against Queensland to decide the championship.
The last time these to teams played each other it was a close game with Queensland coming out the winners.
This time however NSW Country was all fired up and ready to show they could turn the tables.
The game started well for NSW Country when they scored within the first five minutes, and then twice more to go to the half time break leading 3-0 and leave their Queensland opposition shellshocked.
NSW Country finished the game as they started and eventually ran out winners 7 to 0 and are now the National Junior U/14s Champions.