VICTORY AT LAST
PETER FITZSIMONS

Ain't life grand? Last year, the Pacific Hills Dural Pumas under-17 women's soccer team was formed from a group of school friends who not only had never played together before, but for the most part had never played before, full stop. Not surprisingly, they went through the 2009 season without a victory. This year, with the team reduced to just 11 players because of Year 11 study commitments, they were beaten in every game, conceding over 100 goals, the highest score being a 26-0 reverse in which, as the saying goes, they were lucky to get to nil. Despite not scoring a goal all year, all 11 fronted up to training and games week after week. Last Sunday, however, they played a valiant Macquarie Dragons team and an amazing thing happened. In the first half, not only did they score a goal, but the Dragons didn't! Could they hold on? Tension rises around the ground as history beckons. With 10 minutes to go, the ball goes to the Dragons striker who belts it hard. The Pumas goalkeeper flies forward and to her right, reaches out and … blocks it! Not long after, the final whistle blows and after one year, four months and 90 minutes of a hard-fought tussle the Pumas have victory as tears, cheers and pandemonium breaks out, the girls swamped by fans and congratulated by the Dragons. Gotta love this city!

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/boring-or-brilliant-time-to-see-real-wallabies-20100723-10oq3.html