Auckland United and Eastern Suburbs have become the first northern teams to qualify for this year’s Women’s National League.
Weekend results in the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League mean they are sure of making the top four in the competition, regardless of results in remaining fixtures.
Main photo: Bree Johnson … scored a double for Auckland United against Ellerslie to make sure of a national league place. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
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The national league expands from eight to 10 teams this year, as part of a plan to migrate to a fully club-based model in 2026.
The top four sides from the NRFL Women’s Premier League go into the national competition with a Central Football federation side, two Capital Football federation teams, the Wellington Phoenix Reserves, Canterbury United Pride and Southern United.
READ MORE: Women’s National League to expand to 10 teams for 2023 season >>>>
Last season’s eight teams were Eastern Suburbs, Western Springs, Northern Rovers, Auckland United, Central Football, Capital Football, Canterbury United Pride and Southern United.
Mathematically, four northern clubs can still join Auckland United and Eastern Suburbs — Western Springs, Ellerslie, West Coast Rangers and Hamilton Wanderers.
However, Western Springs need only one more win from their remaining four games to clinch qualification.
The race for qualification
Remaining fixtures for the four teams in contention for the last two qualifying places:
Western Springs
Hamilton Wanderers (a), Auckland United (h), Ellerslie (h), Auckland United (a)
Ellerslie
Western Springs (a), Hibiscus Coast (h)
West Coast Rangers
Hibiscus Coast (h), Northern Rovers (h)
Hamilton Wanderers
Western Springs (h), Auckland United (h), Eastern Suburbs (a)
Results
Games played on Sunday July 16, 2023
Auckland United 3 (Bree Johnson 20′, 35′, Talisha Green 73′)
Ellerslie 0
Eastern Suburbs 3 (Juliette Lucas 15′, 42′, Zoe Benson 33′)
Hibiscus Coast 4 (Peta van Hattum 45′, 67′, Danica Urlich-Beech 51′, Lauren Henry 72′)
Hamilton Wanderers 2 (Stella Neems 42′, Ayla Koopu 90+3′)
Northern Rovers 1 Gigi Cliffe 37′)
West Coast Rangers 1 (own goal 53′)
Western Springs 2 (Liz Savage 35′, own goal 56′)
READ MORE: Catching up after the weekend? Here’s all the top results and all on one page … >>>>
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