Auckland United face third round hurdle as they chase back-to-back cup wins

posted in: Kate Sheppard Cup, News |

Holders Auckland United face a potentially tough challenge when they meet Western Springs in their third-round Kate Sheppard Cup tie on Sunday.

The sides meet at Seddon Fields in an early evening game (5.30pm kick off).

Springs’ chances may depend on their starting line-up, as many of their senior players were absent for last weekend’s Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League game against Northern Rovers.

That did not stop Springs from winning 6-0, but they’ll need to be at their best to topple an Auckland United team that’s sitting second on the league table, a point ahead of their cup opponents.

League leaders Eastern Suburbs head to the Waikato on Sunday for a tie with Hamilton Wanderers, beaten finalists in the 2021 cup, for which the final was delayed till last year because of the pandemic.

Main photo: Auckland United players celebrate at the final whistle of last year’s Kate Sheppard Cup final after beating Northern Rovers. Photo credit: Andrew Cornaga / Phototek.

Sunday’s ties will wrap up the seven matches to be played over the weekend, to find the clubs that will join Dunedin City Royals in the cup quarter-finals.

The Royals beat Otago University 3-1 in midweek to become the first name that will go into next week’s draw for the last eight.