National success for defender
She may have been the youngest player in the team but Glenfield Rovers coach Andy Clay has hailed Nelson defender Hannah Mackay-Wright’s ‘‘mature’’ performance in Sunday’s National Women’s Knockout Cup final.
The 16-year-old played the full 90 minutes at right-back and assisted on a goal as Glenfield beat Eastern Suburbs 5-4 in Auckland.
After representing Tasman United at Mainland Women’s Premier League level, the former Nelson College for Girls student moved to Auckland at the beginning of the year in order to con- tinue her development.
Clay, who first coached Mackay-Wright during the New Zealand secondary schools under15 team’s tour of Australia last year, said she was among Glenfield’s ‘‘top three’’ performers on Sunday as the team secured their fourth cup victory in just seven years.
‘‘What is outstanding about Hannah is her maturity for her age. She turned 16 earlier in the year and she’s just so composed on the ball, doesn’t get flustered and has a great first touch. The other thing of course is her huge aerobic capacity. She is very fit and she is a sponge for learning,’’ he said.
‘‘She has great temperament and doesn’t seem worried by anything, even if it’s someone bearing down on her at 100 miles an hour. She will just casually control it, go the other way and keep the ball.’’
Clay said Mackay-Wright took a few weeks to adjust to the quicker pace of the game in Auckland, initially having to mark up against Katie Rood, who has since joined Juventus in Italy, during training. But she is now up to speed and flourishing, according to the coach.
‘‘She has played against great players; New Zealand players, New Zealand under-20 players and New Zealand under-17 players, and that’s what she’s up against most weeks.’’