Whakatāne Town women’s football team have been a class above all season.

Two dominant performances have continued their unbeaten run and secured them the Baywide Women’s League for 2025, with three games to go in the season.

Against Otumoetai, Town turned up with some aggression and showed their attacking instincts from the start.

Emma Owen opened the scoring in the first 20 seconds as Whakatāne enjoyed a dominant first half. Owen added two more goals before the half end, including a fantastic volley from a corner by Daisy Jones, who caused havoc all game with her pin-point accuracy from set pieces.

A brace to both Abby Brogden and player of the day Chelsea Kerr saw the score climb to 8 after Kiahli Lambert, who was equally dangerous, added her own goal.

Ahead by 8 at the break gave Town a chance to rest Owen and Brogden for the second half and give other squad members a run in some unfamiliar positions.

A banger effort from left wing Caitlin McDowell saw her bag her first women’s goal, then the team’s youngest member, 15-year-old Charlotte Anthony, scored her first women’s goal with a beautiful shot from well outside the box.

Mark Brogden stepped up late to referee and did a fabulous job.

Last Sunday, they played Plains Rangers with the Brooke Stilgoe Cup on the line.

Stilgoe played three games for the Football Ferns but was diagnosed with cancer in 2021. They played for the trophy for the first time in April 2024, with Stilgoe present. She died four months later in August.

Town put on a clinical performance to retain the Cup with an impressive 12-0 win.

The heavy rain cleared just in time for kick-off, and with the opportunity to win the league at home, Whakatāne Town Women put together one of their most satisfying performances of the season.

A cohesiveness saw some slick passing and some magnificent goals as Town, with their relentless counter-attack, racked up a double figure score.

Clinical finishing saw Owen score five goals, Daisy Jones netted three, including a super-long-range strike, Abby Brogden scored twice, including a sharp header from a corner, and Tayla Jones and Lambert added one each.

Tayla Jones had a great game in the midfield, but it was Katie Peterson impressing from right back, making many effective attacking runs as well as defensive contributions that saw her snag player of the day honours.

It was smiles and high fives all round as 13 straight wins secured the league for Town.Next game is away to Waiariki.