By Logan Smith
The enduring title race between Dunedin City Royals and Cashmere Technical looks set to meet an end this weekend, with the sides meeting in a blockbuster match on Sunday.
They’ll fight it out at a ground fit for the occasion too, with Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium — a FIFA Women’s World Cup venue little more than a year ago — to host the game.
The Dunedin City Royals remain unbeaten in league action this season and know a win or a draw will secure a first-ever Women’s South Island League title for the club.
Holders Technical, however, have done well to stay in the title race after some setbacks, and a superior goal difference means a win on Sunday will all but land the trophy.
They’d still need to beat Nelson Suburbs in a catch-up game to make that a reality, but on form that would appear to be a formality.
In other fixtures, Coastal Spirit are back home at Linfield Park on Saturday, with Roslyn-Wakari visiting in both teams’ final game for the season. The Spirit will hope to end on a high after defeats to Cashmere in the Reta Fitzpatrick Cup and South Island League saw their chances at silverware perish for 2024.
Meanwhile, down south, Otago University finished their season at the Dunedin Artificial Turf against Nelson Suburbs.
Fourth-placed University should be clear favourites with improved form in the last month or so, but Nelson will be eyeing up a first win of the league after a tough campaign.
Game of the week
The Royals match against Cashmere Technical isn’t merely the game of the week; it’s the game of the season.
Nerves are to be tested with the title on the line, and the Forsyth Barr Stadium setting will give the match a real cup final feel.
Both teams boast impressive, experienced lineups and outstanding win rates this season, and yet fitness may also be tested with both sides having borne the load of a long and taxing season.
Dunedin City Royals have thus far edged the head-to-head matches this season, beating Cashmere 1-0 in the Kate Sheppard Cup and drawing the reverse league fixture away from home.
For football fans in Dunedin, this shapes as a must-watch game.
Player to watch
After three years with the Dunedin City Royals, versatile forward Margi Dias moved north for 2024 and now sports the yellow, blue and green of Cashmere Technical.
She’s had a strong season with her new club too, becoming an important cog in their free-scoring attack and contributing six goals of her own in the Women’s South Island League.
Two came last week in their crucial victory against Coastal Spirit, exhibiting Dias’ ability to find the net in big games that the Royals will be very familiar with.
They’ll need to be wary of their former star on Sunday as they attempt to keep Technicals’ attack quiet and achieve a result that wins the league title.
Bold prediction
There may be a sense of deja vu when Otago University take on Nelson Suburbs on Saturday.
Once again, University are all but certain of a fourth-place finish, while Suburbs come in rock bottom and winless. It’s effectively the same situation the teams faced when they met in the final round of last season’s South Island League.
However, last year, this game didn’t follow the script, where the Nelsonians delivered a brilliant performance and won 4-2, bagging their first-ever win at this level.
Can lightning strike twice? I don’t think so and expect the students to ease to a 3-0 victory.
Golden Boot
8 — Mel Cameron (Coastal Spirit)
7 — Annalie Longo (Cashmere Technical), Anna McPhie (Cashmere Technical)
6 — Margi Dias (Cashmere Technical), Rose Morton (Dunedin City Royals)
5 — Lara Wall (Cashmere Technical)
4 — Emma Kench (Cashmere Technical)
3 — Whitney Hepburn (Coastal Spirit), Bel Van Noorden (Coastal Spirit), Holly Lyon (Coastal Spirit), Shontelle Smith (Dunedin City Royals), Georgia Kennedy (Dunedin City Royals), Hannah Mackay-Wright (Dunedin City Royals), Aynsley Martin (Otago University), Raegan Potter (Dunedin City Royals)
2 — Aimee Phillips (Cashmere Technical), Zara Pratley (Roslyn Wakari), Rosie Hayman (Cashmere Technical), Lainey Altieri-Need (Cashmere Technical), Denva Perrott (Cashmere Technical), Giselle Rynvos (Nelson Suburbs), Jemma Wilson (Roslyn Wakari), Nieve Collin (Dunedin City Royals), Jemma McCormick (Otago University), Rebecca Wilson (Coastal Spirit)
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday August 31, 2024
Coastal Spirit v Roslyn Wakari
Linfield Park, Christchurch, 12.30pm
Otago University v Nelson Suburbs
Dunedin Artificial Turf, Dunedin, 12.30pm
Games to be played on Sunday September 1, 2024
Dunedin City Royals v Cashmere Technical
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 12.15pm
Logan Smith
Logan Smith is a passionate football fan and volunteer, based in Dunedin, covering the Southern League.
More football stories
