Tasman striker Briar in hot goal-scoring form
Football: Briar Luff doesn’t mind if it’s her or her team-mates providing the goals, she just hopes they keep on coming.
The Sports Therapy Tasman United striker has scored 10 times in her first season in the Mainland Women’s Premier League (MWPL), her three-goal haul against FC Twenty11 on Saturday the second time she has bagged a hat-trick.
Luff, who grew up on the Gold Coast, has quickly adjusted to life in the MWPL, replicating her goalscoring form from previous stints with FC Nelson, Richmond Athletic and Nelson Suburbs in the local senior women’s competition.
While she’s not in the same realm as leading scorers Mel Cameron, Mikayla Wieblitz and Football Fern Annalie Longo, who have all scored more than 20 times, the 24-year-old is leading the way for Tasman and was happy to reach her pre-season target of scoring 10 goals.
‘‘It’s a massive step up and I didn’t really know what to expect. I just play how I usually play and I seem to be scoring lately, which is good because it’s my role within the team to get the goals,’’ she said.
Midfielder Anna McPhie has scored eight times and is following close but Luff said there’s no battle within the team to be the top scorer and credited her team-mate for helping her reach double figures - the pair providing half of the team’s overall tally.
‘‘For me I’m not making it a competition but we’re linking up really well and if it’s her or me scoring goals I don’t mind, as long as we’re winning.
‘‘I think everyone has stepped up and on the weekend all three goals were set up by Anna. She’s a real dangerous player so credit to her as well.’’
Luff has made a particular impact against Parklands, who they meet at Saxton Field on Saturday, scoring the only goal in their 1-0 win earlier in the season and winning a late penalty in their most recent 2-1 victory.
While Parklands can hardly be described as Tasman’s ‘‘bogey team’’ because they have beaten them on both occasions, Luff said the their physicality makes the fifth-placed team hard to combat.
‘‘They’re quite a physical side and they got in our faces and were really up for the game. But hopefully we beat them by a couple more goals this time because if we play well I definitely think we’re the better side.’’
Saturday’s game kicks off at 12noon.