Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs have clinched the last qualifying spot in this year’s Women’s National League.
The LilyWhites held on to beat West Coast Rangers 1-0 to take third place in the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership, to join Auckland United, Rangers and Western Springs in the 10-team national competition.
The only other side capable of gaining qualification were Fencibles United but they lost 2-1 at Hibiscus Coast, and finished their debut season in the Premiership with a fifth placing.
Auckland United, already crowned champions, beat Western Springs 1-0 to complete an unbeaten Premiership season.
The champions started their season with success at the OFC Champions League, and have continued their unbeaten run in the Kate Sheppard Cup in which they face holders Western Springs in next Saturday’s final.
At the other end of the Premiership table, Hamilton Wanderers have been relegated and will be replaced by Tauranga Moana who have won the Lotto NRFL Women’s Championship.
Tauranga Moana are in their first season as an entity, having formed through a partnership between Tauranga City, Papamoa and Otumoetai.
The 2024 Women’s National League
The 10 teams (from north to south) will be:
- Auckland United
- West Coast Rangers
- Western Springs
- Eastern Suburbs
- Wellington Phoenix Reserves
- Central Football
- Wellington United
- Waterside Karori
- Canterbury United Pride
- Southern United
The competition starts in the last weekend of September.
Results
Games played on Sunday September 1, 2024
Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership
West Coast Rangers 0
Eastern Suburbs 1 (Shion Hwang 3′)
Western Springs 0
Auckland United 1 (Charlotte Roche 9′)
Hibiscus Coast 2 (Grace Chitty 45+3′, own goal 55′)
Fencibles United 1 (Taylah Byers 15′ pen)
Ellerslie 3 (Hollie Leona 43′, Kate Duncan 55′, Julia Robinson 84′)
Hamilton Wanderers 0
How the Women’s National League works
Last season’s National League expanded to 10 teams, from eight participants in 2022.
The additional teams were the Wellington Phoenix’s reserves, and a third team from the lower North Island.
Last season, Capital Football fielded hybrid federation/club sides, collaborating with Wellington United and Waterside Karori.
This year, Wellington United and Waterside Karori will represent the Capital Football region, having secured the two top places in the Women’s Central League (though the title will not be decided till the clubs meet in a catch-up game on Saturday September 7).
The 2024 competition will comprise:
- Four teams to qualify from the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership (Auckland United, West Coast Rangers, Western Springs and ).
- A Central Football representative side.
- Wellington United and Waterside Karori, representing Capital Football.
- Wellington Phoenix reserves.
- Canterbury United Pride, representing Mailand Football.
- Southern United, representing Southern Football.
READ MORE: Auckland United secure Women’s National League spot with seven games to go >>>>
READ MORE: Central Football confirm coach and player trials for Women’s National League >>>>
Last year’s Women’s National League
Here’s how the 2023 competition finished:
Auckland United won the grand final 2-0 against Southern United at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium Mt Smart.
READ MORE: Auckland United claim Women’s National League title with 2-0 Grand Final win >>>>
This story was first published on September 1, 2024.
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