Photo Credit - TACKLD

Story courtesy of College Sport Media.

This year’s battle for the Capital Football Cup to find the top girls’ team in secondary school football will see past winning schools face some fresh challenges. The competition kicks off on Wednesday 11 June.

Missing from this year’s competition are last year’s silver medallists Samuel Marsden School. A bit of a shock omission as Marsden have been solid performers over the past few seasons. Their missing out on Premier One football, highlights how influential their departing seniors were in making last year’s final.

Scots College have also missed out on returning to the topflight. Their relatively new girls’ football programme will no doubt continue to evolve despite this setback.

With two teams in the premier league, Wellington Girls College might hold the tiniest of advantages over longstanding rivals and current title-holders Wellington Easts Girls College. The girls in teal will be striving for a good season after missing out on last year’s finals, suffering a shock 3-2 loss in their semi-final against Marsden.

However, the next few weeks, will see all eight entrants compete boldly on what can often be cold and miserable Wednesday nights. As the guide below highlights, this may again be one of the more tightly contested College Sport Wellington leagues. There are no semi-finals this year, the final will be a straight 1^st v 2^nd, which will add more intensity to each round robin game.

Hutt Valley High School

2022 champions, HVHS are a recent past winner. This will be coach Mark Oates’ 13^th season at the helm. He was pleased to see his young squad finish fifth last season. A 2-0 grading game win over Marsden was crucial for HVHS making Premiers. The team’s mantra is “we love having the ball” and on the flipside there will be an aggressive press to win the ball back. Their robust defence will be hard to break down. Oates is delighted with the depth of his squad, allowing him to rotate players with like-for-like ability.

Player to watch

Jess Owens-Blackmore

Jess was one of five Wellington players selected for the New Zealand secondary schools U18s team that were Dallas Cup semi-finalists in Texas. Last summer she was part of the Capital Football U18s competing in the National League and plays senior football for Petone. Jess will have an important role upfront, leading her team on attack. She has all-round sports ability also being part of Wellington U19 volleyball rep side.

Kapiti College

An exciting season awaits Kapiti College as they make their way back to Premiers for the first time in years. In their own words, the team aim “to bring fire, passion and determination” to the 2025 competition. A good attitude to training helped see the team go unbeaten in their grading games. This included a win and draw against recent finalists HVHS (a 2-0 win away) and Marsden (2-2 draw). Watch their ability to transition. Their speed upfront will threaten many opposing backlines.

Player to watch

Miranda Webb

Miranda is an attacking midfielder who was previously part of the Wellington Phoenix development programme and now plays senior football for Petone. Her versatility is a real asset for Kapiti. Her read of the game allows her to play a commanding role in influencing proceedings. Miranda runs a hard game, so its likely you will see her contributing at both ends of the field.

Onslow College

Onslow consider themselves a developing team but they’re capable in retaining the ball. As such look out for their passing game and their ability to push forward. Although Celeste Dickson, has grown as a goalkeeper the team face a conundrum as she is also a useful striker. The defensive duo of Jade Jamieson and Yuri Anchico are handy at locking up games. The team won four of their five grading games. The only loss was against Wellington Girls.  Onslow won the final in 2021 beating Wellington Girls on penalties.

Player to watch

Zoe Fergusson

There’s a special story with Zoe, who has incurred hip issues, so this is likely to be her last season playing football. It is Zoe’s fifth season in Onslow’s 1stXI and as a team leader, she wants to finish on a good note. Her injuries saw her withdraw from playing at Wellington United, a couple of years ago. She previously played as a left winger; with her experience she now contributes as a central midfield.

Queen Margaret College

The season offers much to a seasoned team, the squad consists of several Year 13s who have been playing together for a few years. The team could go one better than their semi-final finish in 2024, where they lost to eventual winners WEGC. QMC have a technically sound midfield, who are as equally adept at holding opponents as they are in launching attacks. In their four grading games, the Queens scored 33 goals and conceded only the one goal.

Player to watch

Greer Wilson

Greer was part of the New Zealand Secondary School team that played in the USA, earlier this year, she also plays Central League football for Miramar Rangers.  She is a midfielder who offers a mix of silky skills with the ball at feet and competitive zeal in winning the ball in defensive situations. She also possesses a formidable strike. Greer was the CSW Futsal Player of the Year in 2024.

Wellington East Girls College

The current champions face the prospect of taking on the league with a fresh backline. They have built a reputation for being able to attack at pace and from all parts of the park. Important to their bid to retaining the title will be the performance of Year 13s: Mollie Judd and Amelie Deane. Both have been solid contributors to WEGC’s success in futsal and football. They will be well supported by young teammates like dynamo midfielder Jada Szeto. 

Player to watch

Molly Judd

Similar to Greer, Molly was part of the New Zealand Secondary Schools team and also plays Central League football for Miramar Rangers. Her high involvement incorporates lots of communication as well as plenty of passing. Good on the tackle and precise with her crosses, Molly is lethal as a wing back. She is likely to be the best left-sided-player in the competition this year.

Wellington Girls’ College

With two teams, WGC are set to have a prominent role in this year’s top league,

Their first eleven has strength across the field, with quality in different positions. They love playing attacking and they have a real penchant for scoring goals, netting 33 goals in four grading games. They won one of their grading games by default. Many in the squad tasted success earlier this year winning the senior CSW Futsal tournament.

The second XI is a development team who impressed with grading game wins over 1st XIs from Sacred Heart, Scots, St Mary’s and Tawa. Their only loss was against WEGC. The team are a bit apprehensive about the prospect of playing in the top division, but their success in the preliminary round should give them confidence to play against other 1stXIs.

Player to watch

Annabel Tuck

Expect plenty of determination from one of the 1stXI’s senior figures and hardest working players. Annabel was captain of the Futsal team and she no doubt would like to see her team achieve something similar this winter. As well as ball control, Annabel brings plenty of speed and stamina to her team. Her athleticism is borne out with her fifth-place finish in the recent CSW’s senior girls’ cross country.

Wellington High School

WHS make their return to the Premiers with captain Kaela Mitipano-Parsi at the helm of a squad that includes a core of emerging Year 11s. Wellington High School won all the grading games they played. Accumulating three clean sheets from their four games. Shocking weather on the final Wednesday of preliminaries saw them agree to a 0-0 draw with QMC.

Player to watch

Evie Baird

Evie is a midfielder who plays with a good sense of calm. The young Year 11 offers a good read of the game and the ability to outwit opponents with her piercing through balls. Evie is also effective at meeting crosses with a strong header. A school athletics champion, Evie will be an active contributor to her team.

Article added: Wednesday 11 June 2025