Auckland club Western Springs are celebrating a successful weekend for their women’s and men’s first teams.
The Springs women have clinched a place in the final of this year’s Kate Sheppard Cup with a 3-0 semi-final win against Dunedin City Royals.
Main photo: The Western Springs women relax after winning in Dunedin. Photo credit: Western Springs AFC.
The Springs men have secured the Northern League’s fourth and final qualifying spot for the Men’s National League with victory against Eastern Suburbs.
The women are also in contention to earn a spot in this year’s Women’s National League.
The Maia Vink-coached women’s side got the club’s dream day going with an 11am cup semi-final at Dunedin’s Tahuna Park.
They stormed to a 2-0 lead within five minutes, and made it 3-0 midway through the first half, against a Rovers side that had conceded only three goals all season.
Springs managed the rest of the game to ensure they’ll go to North Harbour Stadium on Saturday September 7 for a Kate Sheppard Cup final against local rivals Auckland United, who beat the Wellington Phoenix Reserves.
Springs will be defending the trophy after beating Wellington United in the showcase game last year.
READ MORE: Holders to play national champs in all-Auckland Kate Sheppard Cup final >>>>
On Saturday afternoon, the Scott Hales-coached men’s team beat third-placed Eastern Suburbs 2-1 at Madills Farm to make sure they would finish no worse than fourth in this year’s National League.
Springs have an eight-point lead over nearest rivals Auckland United, with only two rounds to go.
Results
Games played on Saturday August 17, 2024
Kate Sheppard Cup, semi-final
Dunedin City Royals 0
Western Springs 3 (Rina Hirano 3′, Liz Savage 5′, Rebecca Burrows 24′)
Northern League
Eastern Suburbs 1 (Josh Galletley 39′)
Western Springs 2 (Caspar McGavin 8′, own goal 52′)
Men’s National League qualifiers
Ten teams will play in the Men’s National League.
The four confirmed teams to qualify from the Northern League are Auckland City, Birkenhead United, Eastern Suburbs and Western Springs.
Four teams will qualify from the Central League, including the Wellington Phoenix Reserves who are guaranteed a place in the national competition.
Champions-elect Wellington Olympic and Western Suburbs are assured of national league qualification, and the remaining place will go to either Napier City Rovers or Miramar Rangers
Three clubs are battling for two qualifying spots from the Southern League.
They are Cashmere Technical, Christchurch United and Coastal Spirit.
This story was first published on August 18, 2024.
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