Programme Round 18 Lotto NRFL 2015 Welcome The Lotto NRFL action will not be for the faint-hearted this weekend as we are now CONTENTS entering crunch time and the pressure is on each team to make sure the goals they set for themselves at the start of the season are realised. We are very much on the home straight in the Women’s Premier as there are only Lotto NRFL 2015 3 three matches remaining after this round. The title race appears to be narrowing into a showdown between leaders Claudelands Rovers and reigning champions Forrest Hill- Milford United but third-placed Glenfield Rovers might have something to say about that and have the opportunity to do so on Sunday in hosting Claudelands at McFetridge Lotto NRFL Premier Preview 4 Park. It’s a big weekend for Glenfield as the club’s male team will also be involved in the most significant men’s Premier League clash when first-placed Eastern Suburbs pay a visit to Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier Preview 5 the defending champions, that match also taking place at McFetridge Park on Sunday in the second stanza of a women’s and men’s double header. Lotto NRFL Division 1 Preview 6 The most high-pressure game in the second tier is Manurewa’s trip to Takapuna as both sides look to secure their Division One status while the meeting between the main title challengers, Papakura City and Oratia United, will hog the Division Two headlines. Lotto NRFL Division 2 Preview 7 In the programme this week, we preview these games and all others, as well as featuring photos from Phototek of several recent matches. As always, we also have all the up-to-date tables, team progress graphs, golden boot Lotto NRFL Premier Squad Lists 6 charts and squads so there is a wealth of info at your fingertips! Our Lotto NRFL social media platforms continue to be the place to go for all score updates, results, goal details and other news – be sure to tag us @LottoNRFL with your Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier Squad Lists 8 updates from the sideline! Good luck for your game! Lotto NRFL Division 1 Squad Lists 10 All photos by Phototek Lotto NRFL Division 2 Squad Lists 12 Lotto NRFL Gallery available at: www.phototek.co.nz/aff_picture_gallery.html Lotto NRFL Premier Tables 14 Social Lotto NRFL Division Tables 15 @LottoNRFL Lotto NRFL Lotto NRFL Premier Golden Boot 16 Governing Federations Lotto NRFL Division Golden Boot 17 Lotto NRFL Premier Team Progress 18 Lotto NRFL Division Team Progress 19 50 Years of Local Pride Lotto NRFL Premier Preview Round 18 Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier Preview Round 15 Three Kings United vs Central United Forrest Hill-Milford United vs Eastern Suburbs Keith Hay Park | Saturday 25 July | Kick-off: 2.45pm | Referee: Martin Neale Becroft Park | Sunday 26 July | Kick-off:1pm | Referee: Tony Wall Assistant Referees: Ravi Prasad, Nick Kang vs Assistant Referees: Kieran Withers, Hilary Osborne vs Having emerged on the right side of a real six-pointer against defending champions Glenfield Rovers, Central are Defending champions Forrest Hill had a favour done for them last weekend by Western Springs, who held leaders now genuine title contenders and a league and Chatham Cup double is very much on. Three Kings made a bright Claudelands to a draw. That allowed Forrest Hill to move within two points of their title rivals and breathe new life start to the season before suffering an alarming loss of form but have now snapped out of their losing run with a into their bid for back-to-back championships. Claudelands face another tough assignment at Glenfield so a win 2-1 win over Waitakere City, making this central derby an intriguing prospect. over Suburbs could take Forrest Hill to the top and, with only three matches to follow, you’d then back them to stay there and finish the job. Bay Olympic vs Melville United Three Kings United vs Fencibles United Olympic Park | Saturday 25 July | Kick-off: 2.45pm | Referee: Chris Wolken Assistant Referees: Thomas Lee, Torres Chang Keith Hay Park | Sunday 26 July | Kick-off: 1pm | Referee: Aiden Moffatt Assistant Referees: Reza Al Rabea, Brandon Day Melville made another entry into their ever-growing chapter of defeats last weekend but there were plenty of vs vs positives for coach Steve Williams to take out of the 3-2 loss to Eastern Suburbs. His charges fought back from The title has long been out of reach for Three Kings but a top-three placing is still a realistic aim so there is plenty three goals down to nearly take a point against the league leaders and he will want them to show the same of incentive for Alan Hindson’s charges to sweep aside Fencibles. Hannah Robert scored her sixth of the season in fighting spirit in this clash with mid-table Bay Olympic, a match which offers Melville much greater hope of last weekend’s win over Papatoetoe and, with star striker Martine Puketapu recovering from a serious injury, will adding to their points tally. need to join forces with Jasmine Pereira to provide the goals. The main issue for Fencibles coach Angela Wallbank will be motivating her players as they seem to have only pride to play for now. Birkenhead United vs Western Springs Lynn-Avon United vs Papatoetoe Shepherds Park | Saturday 25 July | Kick-off: 2.45pm | Referee: Mark Fisher Assistant Referees: Steve Merriman, Tom Woo Ken Maunder Park | Sunday 26 July | Kick-off:1pm | Referee: Paul Mason vs Assistant Referees: Isaac McNickle, Caleb Moffatt vs With the likes of Chad Coombes, Jack Hobson-McVeigh, Danny Robinson and Daniel Morgan all in the ranks, Birkenhead possess one of the most star-studded line-ups in the league. But they are ten points off the top and These sides will both be grateful that Fencibles have endured such a horrific campaign as they would otherwise be in great danger of failing to repeat last season’s runners-up placing, making this match against lower mid-table fighting it out with each other to avoid the drop. Having Fencibles acting as a safety net below them means this Western Springs a must win. Springs are in a rut after losing their last three games. match isn’t quite the six-pointer it would have otherwise been but it still offers the teams an excellent opportunity to pocket a rare win. It was Lynn-Avon who triumphed last time, earning a narrow 1-0 victory. Onehunga Sports vs Waitakere City Glenfield Rovers vs Claudelands Rovers Waikaraka Park | Saturday 25 July | Kick-off: 2.45pm | Referee: Nick Waldron Assistant Referees: Wandyck Freitas, Caleb Moffatt McFetridge Park | Sunday 26 July | Kick-off:1pm | Referee: Jeremy Ferguson vs Assistant Referees: Torres Chang, Kevin McMillan vs Former All White Jake Butler has now been at the helm of Waitakere as player-coach for a handful of rounds but the change in management has not had the desired effect. The loss to Three Kings was Waitakere’s eleventh of Most of the focus for neutral observers will be on this meeting of the Rovers as it brings two of the heavyweights the campaign and they are being kept off the bottom only by the poor form of Melville. Sports will therefore be together in a clash that will have big ramifications on the title race. Even if they are not to take the title heavy favourites here and will have a fresh set of legs after the postponement of their meeting with Hamilton. themselves, Glenfield can have a massive say on who does earn that honour by their performance here. Indeed, this is one of the few occasions that local rivals Forrest Hill will be praying for a Glenfield win. Glenfield Rovers vs Eastern Suburbs Western Springs vs Norwest United McFetridge Park | Sunday 26 July | Kick-off: 2.45pm | Referee: Simon Lount Assistant Referees: Faiyaz Ali, Steve Merriman Seddon Fields | Sunday 26 July | Kick-off:1pm | Referee: Wendy McNeely Assistant Referees: John Kimber, Rhys Kimber Rovers are in the second week of a fortnight that is likely to define their season and determine whether they can vs vs successfully defend their title. Having allowed Central to leave McFetridge Park with all three points last time out, Springs did have an outside chance of claiming the title after a thrilling 4-3 win over Forrest Hill three rounds ago they cannot afford to let Suburbs do the same. They are currently behind the leaders by five points and, if that but successive draws have cost them and those dreams of glory are now hanging by a thread. Lifting the trophy gap is extended this weekend, it’s hard to see Glenfield being able to claw it back. does remain a mathematical possibility though so they must make sure they take maximum points from their remaining fixtures and hope the sides above them crumble under the pressure. Hamilton Wanderers vs East Coast Bays Porritt Stadium | Sunday 26 July | Kick-off: 2.45pm | Referee: Mark Owens Assistant Referees: Bruce Horrox, Dominic Hopkirk If the wet weather returns this weekend, Hamilton will be praying the Porritt Stadium surface holds up to it as vs they will not want to be left kicking their heels for a second week running. East Coast Bays are taking some good form into this one after winning two and drawing two of their last four matches. They will need to be at their best, however, as they were outclassed 4-1 by Hamilton in the sides’ previous meeting.