By Joan Grey
Northern Rovers secured the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League title last Sunday so the focus shifts to the battle for second position in the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League.
Auckland United (2nd), Eastern Suburbs (3rd), and Western Springs (4th) are neck and neck on the table with only two points separating the three teams.
Two of these go head-to-head this Sunday in a game that may well help provide answers in final jostling for positions.
Sunday
Eastern Suburbs (3rd) v Auckland United (2nd)
Madills Farm, Auckland
1pm kick-off
Auckland United’s second position on the Women’s Premier League table is at stake at Madills Farm on Sunday where they face Eastern Suburbs.
If Auckland United prevail, they will hold on to their second place and extend their lead over Eastern Suburbs to five points.
However, a loss for United would see Suburbs and potentially Western Springs overtake them on the table and they could find themselves in fourth position.
Suburbs and United have met twice before in the league this season. In April, Auckland United pocketed a 3-0 win over Suburbs, and then more recently in May, Suburbs managed to get a 3-2 edge over United.
United will have to watch out for the league’s top goalscorer Deven Jackson who has found the back of the net 12 times this season. She scored the 85th-minute winner in Suburbs’ 3-2 victory over Ellerslie last Sunday.
Both teams have everything to play for this weekend.
Other fixtures (with current league placings)
Sunday
Northern Rovers (1st) v Ellerslie (5th)
McFetridge Park, Auckland
1pm kick-off
Hamilton Wanderers (7th) v Western Springs (4th)
Porritt Stadium, Hamilton
1pm kick-off
West Coast Rangers (6th) v Tauranga City (8th)
Huapai Reserve 1, Kumeu
3pm kick-off
How they stand
Last weekend’s games
Click here to read our round-up of results from last weekend >>>>
Joan Grey
Friends of Football writer Joan Grey loves playing and writing about football. She captains the Strathallan College Girls First XI and represents Franklin United in the NRF Women’s Championship.