The U16 Hurricanes rounded off a triumphant year with a Cup win against Berwick on the last weekend of the season.
Healesville U16 Hurricanes 3–0 Berwick United
A sunny spring morning at Guy Turner Reserve set the stage for the Cup final between the Hurricanes and Berwick United.
Kendi L-T set the tone early with her physical presence up front, unsettling Berwick and opening up chances.
Isla C struck from distance, and Mahlea D was on hand to finish at the back post – her third goal in as many games.
Kendi then netted twice before the break to give the Hurricanes full control, making it back-to-back braces for her and confirming her as best on ground.
With the game all but decided, the second half was about enjoying the occasion.
Healesville continued to dominate and create opportunities without adding to the scoreline.
At the back, Summer C was composed and steady, while Isla kept the midfield ticking with her passing and vision.
With families on the sideline to celebrate, the Hurricanes lifted the Cup and brought more silverware back to the club.
Healesville Firsts 0–4 Gideon’s Warriors
In a final-round blockbuster Healesville needed to win to take home the title.
Unfortunately, three first-half errors from the Reds meant the game never quite lived up to the hype.
Needing four second-half goals, Healesville pushed players forward but left gaps at the back and were caught on the break with 15 minutes to go by a wonderful goal.
After a fantastic season Healesville have gained promotion and will play in the top tier of the competition next year.
Healesville Women’s Premiers 4–4 Rowville
Healesville went two up in 10 minutes through some great attacking play, Tess getting both, with one coming from a beautiful through ball from Ruby.
The young, talented Rowville side started to get their groove on when they got one back through a cross turned shot, which went in with a bit of help from the wind.
Their second came from a corner soon after, and it was 2–2 at half time.
In the second half the team tightened up the midfield and put some serious pressure on Rowville.
Tess sealed her hat trick, and the team demonstrated some superb play.
Kiah showed composure to pick out a deadly pass for the assist.
Rowville then scored two great long-range efforts in five minutes to leave Healesville stunned at 4–3 down.
As has been the way all year, the team kept going. Chance after chance came until Kiah put in a beautiful first-time shot to make it 4–4.
Healesville Reserves 1–1 Gideon’s Warriors Reserves
After a tough season stepping up a few leagues, Healesville started the last game with purpose and determination.
Gideon’s scored an unlikely goal after a mix-up between Healesville’s defence and keeper.
Healesville started the stronger in the second half, creating more chances, but still couldn’t convert.
But just when you thought it was going to be one of those days, cometh the hour, cometh the man: Healesville Wolves coach, aspiring novelist and all-round cracking bloke Joe ‘Magoo’ McLachlan got on the end of a poor Gideon’s clearance and launched a 30-yard bullet that found the back of the net to even things up.
Healesville dominated the rest of the game but couldn’t quite break through for the win they truly deserved.
Healesville U12 White Wolves 4–1 Blackburn Stingrays
A nervous start saw the Stingrays deliver the first blow through a penetrating run down the right, crossed into the box and finished well by the Stingray forward.
Determination found its way into the Wolves’ game when Robbie K dribbled sharply through the centre, cutting and weaving in true Robbie fashion, to get himself into range and clout the ball on his right foot.
The Blackburn keeper was left with absolutely no hope as the ball hit the net.
It was 1–1 at the break, but the Wolves again hit their stride to force an infringement inside the box, Robbie converting the penalty with authority.
From there the momentum was too great for the Stingrays as Healesville’s confidence soared.
Jono H added another goal to his impressive season in the chaos created up forward.
The pièce de résistance was to still to come.
Battle-weary Austin A, who has had a mountain of injuries to climb out of all year but never complains, was perfectly placed in the box from yet another exceptional Robbie K corner kick to punctuate the
season with a brilliant header.
Healesville U12 White Diamonds 3–2 Blackburn
The Diamonds upped the ante with Emmelia firing up and using her strength to push the ball through midfield into deep attack with Keely running fast alongside.
After two quick goals by Emmelia, the team could breathe a bit.
For the next 20 minutes the game felt like it was all the Diamonds’ way.
Several shots on goal by Evie just went wide. Annabelle, Audrey and Maddie were also getting right up into striking positions, but it was Elodie who managed to sneak one in on the left-hand post.
Up 3–0, the Diamonds all wanted a chance to score.
Their defence was a little open later in the second half, which allowed two Blackburn goals to sneak through.
The Diamonds responded by stacking more players into defence and managed to hold out for the win.
Healesville U10 Red Storm 5–3 Lilydale
Growing as players throughout the season, Red Storm displayed great teamwork to defeat Lilydale.
Healesville U10 Falcons 2–1 Berwick
The Falcons finished the season with a bang, taking the lead through Colton and securing it with an Ethan S goal.
In the second half Healesville could have extended their lead if it wasn’t for the Berwick keeper pulling off a good save.
Berwick then got a goal back and put more pressure on trying to get the equaliser, but some great goalkeeping from Ethan S saw the Falcons run out winners.
Healesville U8 White Pumas 2–1 Lilydale Red
On 14 June 1998 in Salt Lake City, with the last shot of the game, Michael Jordan clinched the NBA championship for a sixth time for the Chicago Bulls.
In doing so he put the icing on the cake for one of the greatest teams in sporting history before its impending split.
A parallel can be drawn between the legendary Bulls of the 1990s and the 2025 season of the White Pumas.
If this team of little legends never plays together again, the last two minutes at Morrisons Reserve on 6 September will be forever etched in their memories.
A strong wind favoured Healesville in the first half, and they looked to capitalise with repeat shots on goal.
The most spectacular moment nearly took place when James footkicked in from his position in goal, narrowly missing the goal at the opposite end.
Eventually the deadlock was broken, and Healesville went into the break 1–0 up.
The second half was a titanic struggle, with both teams having many close shots.
The impenetrable wall of the Healesville defence was broken and Lilydale equalised.
From here on the Healesville parents became an extra player, cheering with delirium.
And so it was that the MJ moment arrived. In the last play of the day, Campbell found himself with the ball and only the goalie in his way.
As time slowed, he coolly dispatched the ball past the keeper into the bottom of the net.
Thirty seconds later, the final whistle blew.
Other results:
Healesville U12 Panthers 3–4 Northern Eagles
Goals: Sem, Ryan
Healesville U11 Ninjas 0–2 Knox Force
