WASA win All Sport Shield

The "Water Boys", runners-up in the Super League last year, would not have been too pleased with their opening performance, but were certainly happy to get the win.

They got goals on either side of half-time from Fabian Garcia and Chad De Freitas, while Super Starz kept things interesting with an equaliser just before the break from Sheldon Taylor.

With the teams playing for the first trophy in the first match of the season, they had added incentive to get on the scoresheet. WASA did so first in just the third minute.

Darin Lewis stole the ball from right back Kofi Drakes near the Starz corner flag, and wove his way past three players. He seemed to be fouled in the box, but picked himself up and slipped the ball through for Garcia, on the top of the penalty area. The midfielder buried his second touch past Jesse Peters in the Super Starz goal.

Super Starz had their chances in an even first half, but a Kevon Dove free kick from 25 metres was way off target, which was typical of their attacking efforts throughout the match.

The goal they did score was a gift, met with a great finish. WASA defender Joel Daniel intercepted a Super Starz long diagonal pass and played it back to his goalkeeper, Waldo Diaz. Diaz controlled under pressure, but his left-footed clearance fell for Taylor at the top of the box, whose one-time blast levelled proceedings before the break.

WASA did not pay for the error, however, regaining the lead 11 minutes into the second half, and keeping it till the final whistle. Garcia stepped up to take a free kick 22 metres out, and curled his right-footer towards the far post. Peters' parry landed in front of De Freitas, who poked home from just wide of the goalie's left upright.

Super Starz came alive in the final 20 minutes of the encounter, but another Dove free kick sailed overbar, and they could not capitalise on late back-to-back corners.

That meant WASA took the Shield, but they still have a long road ahead for the 2011 Super League title.