Cambridge clinch promotion to Lotto NRFL Women’s Championship with draw

Waikato club Cambridge will play in next season’s Lotto NRFL Women’s Championship after winning promotion.

Cambridge’s women’s team drew 3-3 with Onehunga Mangere United at John Kerkhof Park on Sunday to win their two-legged promotion play-off 4-3 on aggregate.

Cambridge took a 1-0 lead into the home leg, thanks to a goal from Caitlyn Varcoe in the first game a week before.

In an end-to-end game, Cambridge took the lead through Brooke Suisted after only five minutes but the Aucklanders soon levelled through Jade Naus.

Zoë Fon gave Cambridge the 2-1 half-time lead with a goal just before the break.

In the early stages of the second half, both sides went on the attack, with three goals scored in a seven-minute burst.

Emma Sherburn scored Cambridge’s third goal while Stephanie Jones grabbed a quickfire double for Onehunga Mangere United.

Cambridge held on for the draw which was enough to see them gain entry to the Lotto NRFL Women’s Championship, the highest level the women’s team have reached in the club’s history.

Cambridge reached the play-offs after winning the WaiBOP W-League, while Onehunga Mangere United won this season’s NRF Women’s Conference.

They will replace Manukau United who finished bottom of the Championship.

Main photo: Cambridge … they’re going up.

The women’s team’s success caps a memorable season for the club following their men’s promotion to next season’s Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship.

Fixture

Game to be played on Sunday September 29, 2024

Second leg

Cambridge 3 (Brooke Suisted 5′, Zoë Fon 40′, Emma Sherburn 63′)
Onehunga Mangere United 3 (Jade Naus 9′, Stephanie Jones 60′, 67′)

How they line up next year

This story was first published on September 29, 2024.

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