New Zealand produced the fast start they desired but not the finish despite thumping Tonga 7-0 to comfortably top Group A, while neighbours Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands drew 1-1 at the 2006 OFC U-20 Women's Championship in Samoa.

Tonga were content on a damage limitation job at the Toleafoa JS Blatter Football Fields, defending with 10 players behind the ball after being humbled 16-0 by New Zealand in March 12 dress-rehearsal to the World Cup qualifies in Apia.

The derby between near neighbours Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands ended with honours shared. Layda Samani opened the scoring after 18 minutes outpacing the Vanuatu defence before calmly rounding the 'keeper and rolling the ball into the empty net. Vanuatu responded on the stroke of half-time in similar fashion through Leisoko Masauvakalo.

The Solomons had chances to secure the win in the second half, but wayward finishing let them down - not for the first time in the tournament.

Earlier in the day Tonga's defensive ploy could not stop Caitlin Campbell from opening the scoring after just 31 seconds, the left winger neatly volleying home from the penalty spot after an excellent ball from skipper Kirsty Yallop.

But New Zealand became increasingly frustrated by Tonga's deep defending after Petria Rennie doubled the score in the 13th minute following a well-weighted cross from Ria Percival.

Shot after shot was sprayed high and wide as the Kiwis lacked composure in the congested penalty area.

New Zealand had to wait till the 41st minute before Yallop finished a neat one-two with Katie Hoyle. Hoyle's midfield partner Emma Harrison then made it 4-0 two minutes before halftime when she rifled a left-footed shot into the right hand corner after being cleverly set up by Sarah Gregorius.

It was a similar pattern of hit and miss in the second half with halftime substitute Ali Riley (53rd), Yallop (62nd) and second half sub Emma Humphries (71st) completing the rout.

Yallop's second goal (her fifth of the tournament) was a scorcher with the classy Kiwi captain evading two defenders before blasting into the far-post side-netting from an acute angle on the left edge of the box.

New Zealand coach John Herdman was predictably frustrated afterwards.

"They scored early which is what we asked for. We'd have liked them to score more but short of moving the goal myself, I don't know what we can do. It's tear your hair out sort of stuff for a coach."

"To be fair it could have been 20 but it wasn't for a lack of trying," Herdman continued.

Herdman gave Campbell and goalkeeper Aroon Clansey their first game time of the tournament while Harrison and Julia Baldwin enjoyed their first starts.

New Zealand were guilty of conceding possession too easily but had the consolation of Humphries scoring her first goal of the tournament after a series of near misses in the earlier wins over the Solomon Islands (4-0) and Vanuatu (11-0).

"What today has done is given us an indication of what players will be more effective in the semifinals...it's been a good little outing in that respect."

New Zealand will meet the loser of Tuesday's (local time) Group B decider between Papua New Guinea and Samoa in the semifinals. The semifinals are scheduled for 1.30pm and 3.30pm on Thursday (local time).

The winner of Saturday's 3.30pm final will represent Oceania at the August 16 - September 2 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Russia.

OFC U-20 Women's Championship - Match Day three results:

Group A -

New Zealand 7 (Caitlin Campbell 1, Petria Rennie 13, Kirsty Yallop 41, 63, Emma Harrison 43, Ali Riley 53, Emma Humphries 71) Tonga 0. Halftime 4-0.

Solomon Islands 1 (Layda Samani 18) Vanuatu 1 (Leisoko Masauvakalo 45). Halftime: 1-1.

Group A P W D L GF GA PTS

NZL 3 3 0 0 22 0 9

TON 3 2 0 1 6 9 6

SOL 3 0 1 2 2 7 1

VAN 3 0 1 2 2 16 1

Group B -

April 4:

Fiji v New Caledonia, 2pm.

Samoa v Papua New Guinea, 4pm (both local time)

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has hosted players and officials at a traditional Samoan church service during a rest day at the 2006 OFC U-20 Women's Championship.

The OFC delegation was treated to a stirring sermon by Reverend Fepai Kolia and sweet singing from the church choir at the EFKS Youth Hall in the village of Mulinuu on the shoreline of Apia.

Rev Kolia told the congregation to mould their behaviour on the football pitch with lessons from the bible before wishing the teams the best of luck for the remainder of the tournament.

Prime Minister Malilegaoi, who doubles as the patron of the Samoan Football Federation, welcomed the competitors and urged them to explore his "beautiful country" during breaks in play.

He promised to keep his address short given the "smell of food filling our nostrils" as a traditional Samoa lunch (To'ana'i) was being prepared in the back of the hall.

Mr Malilegaoi was elected to a fifth term as Prime Minister after Samoa's general election on Friday.

John Herdman's side return to the tournament venue to meet unbeaten Tonga on Monday to decide which team tops group A.

New Zealand have beaten the Solomon Islands 4-0 and Vanuatu 11-0 to underline their favourtism for the title and Oceania's berth at the inaugural FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Russia from August 16 - September 2.

Hosts Samoa are scheduled to play Papua New Guinea on Tuesday to find the winner of pool B. The loser is set to meet New Zealand in one of Thursday's semifinals with the Kiwis favoured to win pool A after recently beating Tonga 16-0 in a warm-up match at North Harbour Stadium in Albany.

The four semifinalists have been found at the 2006 OFC U-20 Championships in Samoa with a round of group matches to spare.

Hosts Samoa sealed their qualification with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia at the Toleafoa JS Blatter Football Fields in Apia on Saturday (local time).

Striker Suitapa Tafata sent the vocal local crowd into raptures with a hat-trick.

Samoa will play Papua New Guinea on Tuesday to decide who tops group B after PNG demolished Fiji 6-1 on Saturday.

Striker Zeena Limbai was PNG's heroine with four goals while Bridget Nakas and Daisy Winas were also on target.

Tonga eased into the final four with a 2-1 win over the Solomon Islands thanks to Penateti Feke 39th and 65th minute double.

Vanessa Inifiri equalised for the Solomons in the 61st minute but Feke ensured Tonga the mantle of tournament upstarts with her winner just four minutes later.

Tonga now play New Zealand on Monday to determine the group A winner.

New Zealand waltz into the semifinals with an 11-0 thumping of Vanuatu. Vanuatu battled bravely for half an hour before defender Abby Erceg opened the floodgates with a powerful header.

Kiwi captain Kirsty Yallop scored a second half hat-trick while halftime substitute Helen Collins added a double, her first coming just 48 seconds after the restart.

Sarah Gregorius, Ria Percival, Hannah Bromley, Renee Leota and Ali Riley completed the scoring for New Zealand who will enter Monday's group A deciding clash buoyed by a recent 16-0 warmup win over Tonga.

Group A -

New Zealand 11 (Abby Erceg 30, Sarah Gregorius 39, Ria Percival 41, Hannah Bromley 42, Renee Leota 43, Kirsty Yallop 50, 57, 83, Helen Collins 46, 59, Ali Riley 60) Vanuatu 0. Halftime: 5-0.

Tonga 2 (Penateti Feke 39, 65) Solomon Islands 1 (Vanessa Inifiri 61). Halftime 1-0.

Group B -

Papua New Guinea 6 (Zeena Limbai 11, 18, 63, 66, Bridget Nakas 12, Daisy Winas 32) Fiji 1 (Savaira Ratu 83). Halftime: 4-0.

Samoa 3 (Suitapa Tafafa 3) New Caledonia 0. Halftime: 2-0.

Group A P W D L GF GA PTS

NZ 2 2 0 0 15 0 6

Tonga 2 2 0 0 6 2 6

Solomon 2 0 0 2 1 6 0

Vanuatu 2 0 0 2 1 15 0

Group B P W D L GF GA PTS

PNG 2 2 0 0 9 1 6

Samoa 2 2 0 0 6 0 6

Fiji 2 0 0 2 1 9 0

New Cal 2 0 0 2 0 6 0

The Solomon Island Football Federation is eager to see junior soccer league is organized in the wake of the U-12 tournament currently being held in Honiara for local primary schools.

SIFF President Martin Alufurai witnessed U-12 matches played at the national academy and says his federation will do all it can to get a competition up and running for kids.

He was impressed with overall performance of the participating schools and in particular the standard of football displayed by the kids over the last three days. A squad will be selected from the tournament to represent the Solomon Islands in the inaugural OFC U-12 Festival of Football.

The competition also features a U-12 girls section contested by seven teams.

HOSTS AND HEAVYWEIGHTS SHINE ON OPENING DAY OF U-20 CHAMPS

Hosts Samoa and heavyweights New Zealand have made winning starts to the 2006 Oceania U-20 Women's Championship in Apia.

Buoyed by a vocal home crowd, Samoa overpowered Fiji 3-0 with goals from Josephine Ane and Suitupe Tafafa (2) at the Toleafoa J S Blatter Soccer Complex.

Fiji looked to scored a late consolation goal from the penalty spot only to have it disallowed after a Fijian player encroached early. Samoan goalkeeper Kalaponi Leato then saved the re-take to the delight of the sun-bathed crowd.

New Zealand entered the first Oceania tournament following Australia's departure to the Asia Football Confederation as overwhelming favourites to qualify for August's FIFA U-20 World Cup in Russia.

They predictably won their opening game but the 4-0 scoreline over the Solomon Islands belied the difficultly New Zealand had in breaking down their gritty opponents.

New Zealand were made to wait until the 51st minute to break the stalemate with Hannah Rishworth climbing above the static Solomon Islands defence to nod home Ria Percival's corner.

Percival doubled the Kiwis' lead in the 62nd minute when her cross from the left hand touchline duped the Solomons' goalkeeper and cannoned into the net off the far-post.

New Zealand had their third a minute later when US-based Ali Riley coolly finished after being put clear by second-half substitute Petria Rennie.

Percival capped the scoring in the 79th minute, tapping home from close range after a determined run and an excellent cross from work-acholic striker Emma Humphries.

New Zealand head Group A on goal differential from Tonga who came from a goal down to beat Vanuatu 4-1 in their opener.

Marion Tuipulotu (2), Kaati Malua and Salome Vaenuku scored for Tonga while Fabrina Serveux added a consolation for Vanuatu.

Papua New Guinea share the Group B lead with Samoa after beating New Caledonia 3-0.

Gusty winds made life difficult for PNG who took the lead a minute after halftime through Pauline Turakaura. Turakaura nutmegged the New Caledonia goalkeeper who still appeared dazed after a heavy collision minutes earlier.

Zeena Limbai (58th) and Jacquline Chalau (87th) capped PNG's dominance.

PNG play Fiji in their next match on Saturday with Samoa up against New Caledonia in the other Group B encounter.

Tonga will be tested by the Solomons while New Zealand play Vanuatu.

Oceania U-20 Women's Championship

Day One results

Group A:

New Zealand 4 (Hannah Rishworth 51, Ria Percival 62, 79, Ali Riley 63) Solomon Islands 0. Halftime: 0-0.

Tonga 4 (Kaati Malua, Salome Vaenuku, Marion Tuipulotu 2) Vanuatu 1 (Fabrina Serveux). Halftime: 0-0.

Group B:

New Caledonia 0 Papua New Guinea 3 (Pauline Turakaur 45, Zeena Limbai 58, Jacquline Chalau 87). Halftime 0-1.

Samoa 3 (Suitupe Tafafa 2, Josephone Ane) Fiji 0. Halftime 2-0.

Group A P W D L GF GA PTS

New Zealand

1 1 0 0 4 0 3

Tonga 1 1 0 0 4 1 3

Vanuatu 1 0 0 1 1 4 0

Solomon Islands 1 0 0 1 0 4 0

Group B P W D L GF GA PTS

Samoa 1 1 0 0 3 0 3

Papua New Guinea 1 1 0 0 3 0 3

Fiji 1 0 0 1 0 3 0

New Caledonia 1 0 0 1 0 3 0