“Number eleven.”Maia ran over to Liz and told her the coach wanted her off.
Liz cursed and stomped to the sideline.Maia didn’t comment but secretly thought the coach had made an excellent call.Liz’s shirt appeared pristine, and she’d done little to help today.A few players were having worse games than the previous week, and Maia had no idea why when the coach had considered them skilled enough for the team.
She disregarded the thought and immersed herself in the game.Her initial contact with the ball passed without incident, and her nerves settled.It was a blast, and now that Jan was directing the game, the girls played with alertness.
The referee blew his whistle.A penalty for their team.Maia glanced at Jan and received a quick nod.She tapped the ball and started running, with Jan shadowing her.They surprised the opposition when they’d dithered through the rest of the game.Maia fended off an opposition forward and flew past with Jan still backing her and in the clear for a pass if Maia got tackled or blocked.
Her heart pumped, and her muscles strained as she sped toward the goal line.Then she was there and dived, dotting the ball down as a forward tackled.Too late!They’d scored.
Maia rolled away and sprang to her feet.In the next second, Jan and Zara had her in a fierce hug.The official raised his hand to signal a try.
Zara took the kick, and the ball floated through the goal uprights.
Yay!They were on the scoreboard.
The next fifteen minutes passed rapidly.Her team took heart from scoring and lifted their game, making excellent runs toward the opposition’s goal.
The Wellington team scored a field goal, and Maia’s team went into a quick huddle.
“Let’s make the coach proud and try one of our set plays from the kickoff,” Jan said.
Maia suggested one, and the girls nodded, each knowing their part.
Zara kicked off, placing the ball in precisely the right place.Their forwards rushed the receiving player, and the ball flew free.Maia seized it and set off toward the goal line.There was no one in front of her.She couldn’t be this lucky.She didn’t hear the referee’s whistle and sprinted for the goal line.Then she was over in the corner.Not an easy kick.Since no one tackled her, she rounded and ran across until she could dot down under the goal.
The referee’s whistle was the sweetest music.Although they wouldn’t win today, they’d made the score more respectable.
Zara slotted the conversion, then the referee blew the final whistle.
Maia shook hands with the opposition players, congratulating them, while Jan and Zara did the same.Some of her team just walked off the pitch, making for the dressing room.
“Huh,” Jan said, glancing after them.“Looks as if they’re intending to have hot showers.”
Maia left the field with Zara and Jan.
“Great game, girls,” Rose said.“You did well, considering you played the last twenty minutes with one player down.”
Maia noticed Amanda hadn’t reappeared.Maia couldn’t say whether she was embarrassed, but that sort of behavior was stupid.Amanda’s punch had allowed the opposition team a penalty from which they’d scored, and Maia’s team one player short.It would be interesting to see how the coaches handled this and if they stood her down as punishment.
The dressing room wasn’t a happy place when Maia entered with Zara and Jan.They heard shouting and abrupt silence when they entered.Not one girl looked at them.Amanda picked up her gear bag and sauntered past.
Maia glanced at Jan and shrugged.Zara queued for the shower while Maia quickly washed with a flannel before dressing warmly.
Half an hour later, the team boarded their bus and headed for the airport.No one said much, and Maia wondered if she’d erred in taking the Dunedin contract.But no.Jan and Zara were great.So was Rebecca.She’d go ahead with her plan to invite the team to a barbecue once they won their first game.Amanda wasn’t working as captain.They needed someone else.Jan, probably, since she’d had the girls playing more cohesively.
“We have an hour before we need to get to the gate,” Rose said after she’d checked them in.“Don’t be late because I’m not running around looking for you.”
Jan wandered over to Maia.“Zara and I are going to grab a coffee.Want to come?”
“Sounds good.”
“You played a fantastic game,” Maia said once they’d settled at an empty table with coffee and a cake each.“I didn’t like to say anything in the dressing room because the atmosphere was oppressive.Is it always like that?”
“Our team used to be superb.We played and socialized together, but the older players left, and the dynamics changed,” Zara said.“It will come right.It always does.The coach just needs to get the right balance of players.”
Maia blinked because, from where she sat, their team was a hot mess.She texted Henry before boarding the plane, letting him know they were on time and they’d lost the game.
A return text came.How did you go?
