By Joan Grey
With six games over six days, the coming week provides a feast of Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership action.
With only 10 fixtures remaining, the competition is hurtling towards its conclusion and every game matters in deciding the final standings.
The action-packed week ahead offers two fixtures on Friday evening, two on Sunday afternoon, and a weeknight match on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Tuesday, a top-of-the-table clash sees Auckland United welcoming West Coast Rangers to Fred Taylor.
Assuming Auckland United and Rangers win their weekend matches, Tuesday night becomes the Premiership title decider.
If Auckland United win against Rangers, they’ll secure the silverware.
Wednesday sees Fencibles challenge Western Springs. Scooping the three points that night is key to top-four National League entry.
Springs and Fencibles, with Eastern Suburbs, are in a three-way race for National League qualification. Only one point separates third-placed Suburbs from Springs in fourth place, and trailing just one point behind them are Fencibles.
Game of the week
West Coast Rangers stand in the path of Fencibles’ ticket to the national league when they meet on Friday night.
Fencibles are in fifth position, following Suburbs’ victory on Sunday.
Rangers have dominated their previous encounters, winning 4-0 in April, then following up with a 3-0 win in June.
They’ll have the added advantage of playing on home turf at Fred Taylor Park.
Rangers remain undefeated against all league opponents except leaders Auckland United.
Fencibles are no pushovers.
In their recent clash with Auckland United, they forced the titans to settle for a 1-1 share of the spoils, becoming just the second team to snatch points from the league leaders — a feat not even Rangers have managed.
Player to watch
Rina Hirano played her 99th game for Springs in the Kate Sheppard Cup semi-final against Dunedin City Royals last weekend.
She had an immediate impact, scoring in the third minute and assisting Liz Savage’s goal in the fifth, helping secure a 3-0 win for Springs and a place in the final.
The Japanese-born player has played a key part in Springs’ lineup this season and contributed four league goals.
Sunday’s game against Hamilton Wanderers should mark her 100th match for Springs.
Bold prediction
It could be tight between seventh-placed Ellerslie and sixth-placed Hibiscus Coast on Sunday.
Coast will try to build on their recent 3-0 victory over Suburbs, and I’m predicting a 3-1 win to Coast.
Golden Boot
14 — Danica Urlich-Beech (Hibiscus Coast)
13 — Shannon Henson (West Coast Rangers)
12 — Charlotte Roche (Auckland United)
11 — Bree Johnson (West Coast Rangers), Zoe Benson (Eastern Suburbs), Sofia Garia (Eastern Suburbs)
9 — Rene Wasi (Auckland United)
8 — Alexis Cook (Auckland United), Emily Lyon (West Coast Rangers)
6 — Lily Brazendale (Hamilton Wanderers), Megan Lee (Western Springs), Anelise Karakostas (West Coast Rangers)
5 — Chloe Knott (Auckland United), Rosie Missen (Fencibles United), Millee Loxton (Fencibles United)
4 — Angela Pivac (Auckland United), Arisa Takeda (Western Springs), Catherine Smith (West Coast Rangers), Maia Lythe (Western Springs), Marissa Porteous (West Coast Rangers), Rina Hirano (Western Springs), Shion Hwang (Eastern Suburbs), Talisha Green (Auckland United)
Fixtures
Game to be played on Friday August 23, 2024
Auckland United v Eastern Suburbs
Keith Hay Park, Mt Roskill, 7.30pm
West Coast Rangers v Fencibles United
Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai, 7.30pm
Games to be played on Sunday August 25, 2024
Hibiscus Coast v Ellerslie
Stanmore Bay, Whangaparaoa, 1pm
Western Springs v Hamilton Wanderers
Seddon Fields, Westmere, 1.30pm
Game to be played on Tuesday August 27, 2024
Auckland United v West Coast Rangers
Keith Hay Park, Mt Roskill, 7.30pm
Game to be played on Wednesday August 28, 2024
Fencibles United v Western Springs
Riverhills Park, Pakuranga, 7pm
Joan Grey
Friends of Football writer Joan Grey loves playing and writing about football.
More football stories
