Latest news with #Robson
Scoop
a day ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Dominant New Zealand Win OFC U-16 Women's Championship 2025
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation New Zealand started the second half picking up where they left off in the first, setting up camp in Samoas half comfortably, and were almost immediately rewarded after a lovely turn and shot from Robson that she was unfortunate to see rebound … Samoa's hopes of making history on home soil were dashed by three first half goals from a determined New Zealand side. New Zealand perhaps didn't come into this game as the clear-cut favourites like they had done in previous years, having been put under immense pressure by New Caledonia in the semi-final, going into half time 1-1 before eventually prevailing 4-2. Samoa, meanwhile, had enjoyed a dominant win over Solomon Islands in their semi-final, which saw them enter the final as the only team at the tournament not to have conceded a goal. It took minutes for New Zealand to put paid to that record, as Lania Fili became the first player to breach the Samoan net receiving the ball with acres of space and time outside the Samoan penalty area she was able to pick out the top corner leaving Margaret Fagasuisui Tuii stranded. Undeterred, Samoa pressed back, with Cali Willis, a stalwart of the hosts' 2024 history-making side, particularly dangerous down the left flank. New Zealand, however, were keen to put the game beyond doubt as soon as possible, and took that opportunity in the 17th minute through a swift counterattack, ultimately producing a penalty after Mia Humphrey was obstructed in the penalty area. Captain Amelia Hitchcock duly stepped up to double her side's lead from the spot. New Zealand's third came courtesy of a well-worked corner routine, with Ariana Vosper's corner finding Isla Robson at the near post, and the forward glanced her header past Fagasuisui Tuii to take her side into the first half's cooling break comfortably in control. New Zealand started the second half picking up where they left off in the first, setting up camp in Samoa's half comfortably, and were almost immediately rewarded after a lovely turn and shot from Robson that she was unfortunate to see rebound off the crossbar. Samoa upped the ante, and Brielle Tautua was unlucky not to pull back a goal for Samoa on the hour mark, herself finding the goalframe off a corner. Aaliyah Johnson then took up the mantle to try and drag Samoa back into the game, with her strength and determination fashioning several opportunities for herself from range, but she was unable to hit the target. Ultimately, New Zealand's first half goals were insurmountable for a persistent Samoa side to overcome, and the holders sealed a seventh straight win in the OFC U-16 Women's Championship. HT: 0-3
The Courier
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Courier
'It's about what's right for the team' - Barry Robson searching for perfect balance at Raith Rovers
Barry Robson admits Raith Rovers are still seeking 'that perfect balance' but is convinced they are on the right tracks. The Kirkcaldy outfit opened the Championship campaign with an underwhelming 1-1 draw at home to Queen's Park last weekend. They now face the daunting task of an away trip to face Ayr United, a team Robson believes are one of three favourites for the title along with Ross County and St Johnstone. After failing to progress from the Premier Sports Cup groups, largely because of a shock defeat to SPFL newcomers East Kilbride, Raith have not yet hit their stride so far this season. However, with some fans questioning team selection and tactics, Robson knows he has to stick to his guns. 'I think we're still searching for that perfect balance, if you ever get there,' Robson told Courier Sport. 'But we've been terrific with our work ethic, and our structure has been very good. 'We just have to tidy up on both ends of the pitch and every team's like that. 'For me, we're just trying to get it all to fit into place, because performance-wise it's been good; I don't think anybody can argue with that. 'When you watch us as a team, everybody sees we look good, we're a good side. 'But there's a difference between a good side and a ruthless side, and that's where we need to get to next. 'It's about trying to keep the clean sheets as much as we can and scoring the goals.' One particular question amongst some supporters is the blend in midfield and the potential for Shaun Byrne to add something different. 'If you're not winning, everybody's always going to want something different,' responded Robson. 'That's natural in life, isn't it? We can all be like that. 'But there's lots of different things and caveats to football. And, for me, you can say this about a player and then if that player comes in and doesn't perform, then why did you put him in? 'So, you learn very quickly as a manager that you're never going to please everyone. 'There can be talk about what players should play where. But, for me, it's about what's right for the team and I work with them every day closely and hopefully we can pick the right team. 'We know what we are, everybody sees what we are. It's just that finishing touch in front of goal. 'We're not a team that's scrambling about, throwing in eight or nine different players. 'We know what we are, we know what we want to be and we just need to get that next bit.'
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Genuine hurt': Anger as netball grand final performer's domestic violence history emerges
The Australian Netball Players' Association says booking a performer who had pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges to appear at last week's sold-out Super Netball grand final in Melbourne caused 'genuine hurt' among its members. Siala Robson, a former finalist on The Voice, was part of a three-pronged act that featured at the grand final, won by the Melbourne Vixens in front of a crowd of 15,013 at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena. The singer fronted court in Queensland last year over a series of charges relating to a domestic violence incident in December 2023. He pleaded guilty in the Cleveland Magistrates Court to one court of assault occasioning bodily harm in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and one count of assault occasioning bodily harm in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance. Robson, 22, was ordered to pay $500 compensation to each of the two victims ($1000 total) and given a community service order of 60 hours. No conviction was recorded. Netball Australia said it was not aware of the offences committed by Robson before the grand final and the matter was only brought to their attention after the game. The governing body indicated it would strengthen its risk management protocols for events. 'Netball Australia has a zero-tolerance position on violence and actively campaigns against domestic violence with the support of our playing group, who are deeply connected to this society-wide issue,' it said in a statement. 'With respect to the necessary checks and balances in place, we relied on the third-party agency we partnered with to supply the talent. This was not sufficient and Netball Australia will immediately strengthen its event risk management protocols to ensure this doesn't happen again.'
The Age
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘Genuine hurt': Anger as netball grand final performer's domestic violence history emerges
The Australian Netball Players' Association says booking a performer who had pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges to appear at last week's sold-out Super Netball grand final in Melbourne caused 'genuine hurt' among its members. Siala Robson, a former finalist on The Voice, was part of a three-pronged act that featured at the grand final, won by the Melbourne Vixens in front of a crowd of 15,013 at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena. The singer fronted court in Queensland last year over a series of charges relating to a domestic violence incident in December 2023. He pleaded guilty in the Cleveland Magistrates Court to one court of assault occasioning bodily harm in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and one count of assault occasioning bodily harm in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance. Robson, 22, was ordered to pay $500 compensation to each of the two victims ($1000 total) and given a community service order of 60 hours. No conviction was recorded. Netball Australia said it was not aware of the offences committed by Robson before the grand final and the matter was only brought to their attention after the game. The governing body indicated it would strengthen its risk management protocols for events. 'Netball Australia has a zero-tolerance position on violence and actively campaigns against domestic violence with the support of our playing group, who are deeply connected to this society-wide issue,' it said in a statement. 'With respect to the necessary checks and balances in place, we relied on the third-party agency we partnered with to supply the talent. This was not sufficient and Netball Australia will immediately strengthen its event risk management protocols to ensure this doesn't happen again.'
Scoop
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
New Zealand Kick-Start Title Defence With Victory Over Tonga
A hat-trick from Isla Robson proved pivotal, as the reigning champions held off a spirited Tongan effort to record their first three points of the 2025 tournament. New Zealand had never scored under seven goals in four previous meetings between the two nations at U-16 women's level but found it much tougher to exert the same level of dominance on this occasion. Tonga did well to hold out for 25 minutes, surviving shots from Robson, Charlotte Summers, and Amelia Hitchcock through the opening exchanges. Robson was the one to eventually make the breakthrough though, pivoting in the penalty box and finding the top left corner of the net on her right foot. She was the scorer of the second goal just before half-time too, capitalising on an error from Tongan goalkeeper Temaleti Taufaao to tap the ball into an empty net. Tonga still had hopes of rescuing something from the game and upped the attacking intensity at the start of the second half. India-May Mann twice came close for them but was only able to find the gloves of Nienke Mei Lemmens on both occasions. The New Zealand substitutes combined in the 67th minute to kill any hopes of a Tongan resurgence though, Mia Humphrey meeting a cross from Eden Chaytor to score her country's third goal. Hitchcock, the captain, twice had the opportunity to add a fourth goal, first forcing a double-save out of Taufaao, and then skying a close-range shot over the bar. Robson was the one to get the fourth, completing her hat-trick in the sixth minute of injury-time, after turning Humphrey's low cross into the bottom-right corner of the net. It marks only the fourth time in OFC U-16 Women's Championship history that New Zealand have been kept to less than five goals in a match. They face the other Group B winners, the Solomon Islands, next Tuesday, whilst Tonga will attempt to keep their campaign alive against tournament debutants American Samoa. New Zealand: 4 (Isla ROBSON 25', 45', 90+6', Mia HUMPHREY 67') Tonga: 0 HT: 2-0
