Looking for some football action over the Anzac Day weekend?
There’s plenty to choose from with the draws for the Northern League and Lotto NRFL competitions throwing up some top-of-the-table clashes for those in the North.
Our neutral’s guide to the weekend
Here’s our tips for the most entertaining games of the weekend:
Saturday
The Northern League pits top-placed Auckland United against bottom-placed West Coast Rangers.
The match takes place at Waikaraka Park (3pm).
While United are setting the pace in the new-look competition, Rangers show five losses from five outings, a performance made worse after NZ Football ruled the club had breached rules limiting the number of foreign players in their matchday squad.
Though Rangers had lost all their fixtures, despite playing an ineligible player in four of them, the results have been adjusted to show 0-3 losses against North Shore (actual score 0-2) and Melville United (was 0-1).
Will this disciplinary action spur a revival from Rangers? Or will they be consigned to the foot of the table for the rest of the year?
In Division 1, there will be an emotional start to the game between top-placed East Coast Bays and visitors Mt Albert Ponsonby, who are second and one of six clubs tied on nine competition points.
Bays lost Life Member Ross de Wynter in the week leading up to the game and the club will want to mark his death with a memorable day at the club.
That game is at Bay City Park (3pm).
In Division 2, second-placed Fencibles United host third-placed Cambridge who have won three games in a row.
The match kicks off at William Green Domain at 3pm.
Sunday
In the women’s Premier Division, Hamilton Wanderers (2nd) host Northern Rovers (3rd) at Porritt Stadium.
Both are chasing early competition leaders Western Springs and a draw suits neither club, so there’s a fair chance spectators will be treated to attacking football with plenty of goals.
Game starts at 1pm.
Main image: Onehunga Mangere United players celebrate a goal in division 2. Photo: Courtesy of Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
