Programme Round 2 & 3 CONTENTS Lotto NRFL 2015 3 Lotto NRFL Premier Preview R2 4 Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier Preview R2 5 Lotto NRFL Division 1 Preview R2 6 Lotto NRFL Division 2 Preview R2 7 Lotto NRFL Premier Preview R3 8 Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier Preview R3 9 Lotto NRFL Division 1 Preview R3 10 Lotto NRFL Division 2 Preview R3 11 Lotto NRFL Premier Squad Lists 12 Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier Squad Lists 14 Lotto NRFL Division 1 Squad Lists 16 Lotto NRFL Division 2 Squad Lists 18 Lotto NRFL Premier Stats 20 Lotto NRFL Division Stats 21 Lotto NRFL 2015 Welcome It’s a double header this weekend for the Lotto NRFL! In the programme this week we preview both Round 2 and 3 of each of the divisions. We also have the league tables with the positions of the teams after Round 1, which threw up some interesting and unexpected results for some. We also feature photos from Phototek from Round 1 - the Lotto NRFL Premier match between Western Springs and Birkenhead and the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier game between Norwest United and Claudelands Rovers. We are still missing a few squad lists, so if your team is missing remind your coach or team manager to get it to us so we can include it for next weekend, and those on the sideline will know who they are watching! Our new Lotto NRFL-dedicated social media has already proven popular with many. When you’re at the games this weekend, we’d love to get updates from you, tag us @LottoNRFL Good luck for the weekend! All photos by Phototek Lotto NRFL Gallery available at: www.phototek.co.nz/aff_picture_gallery.html Social @LottoNRFL Lotto NRFL Governing Federations Lotto NRFL Premier Preview Round 2 Waitakere City vs Melville United Fred Taylor Park | Friday 3 April | Kick-off: 2.45pm | Referee: Chris Wolken, Assistant Referees: Mark Fisher, Stephen Merriman vs Waitakere will be looking to begin an undefeated run at home after posting a scoreless draw with Onehunga Sports at the Fred last weekend. Given their struggles of 2014, coach Colin Tuaa would’ve been happy at avoiding defeat on the opening day but newly-promoted Melville had no such luck in being humbled 6-2 by Bay Olympic. The one bright spot was the two goals of Kieran Frewen, who will likely receive close attention from the Waitakere defence. Three Kings United vs Western Springs AFC Keith Hay Park | Friday 3 April | Kick-off: 2.45pm | Referee: Mark Owens, Assistant Referees: Ben Norman, Bruce Horrox vs This central Auckland derby – the second in succession for Three Kings – is one of the highlights of the round and, if last week is anything to go by, is sure to offer plenty of entertainment. Both sides began their seasons in thrilling fashion, Three Kings falling 4-2 to Central while Springs showed plenty of spirit in fighting back to draw 2-2 with Birkenhead. Allan Pearce was on target for Three Kings and the vastly experienced former All White will pose plenty of problems for a youthful Springs. Glenfield Rovers AFC vs Hamilton Wanderers McFetridge Park | Friday 3 April | Kick-off: 2.45pm | Referee: Cory Mills, vs Assistant Referees: Simon Lount, Aiden Moffatt It was business as usual for both these sides in the first round as they carried on their good form from the previous campaign to earn wins. Something may have to give on Friday but Glenfield have made McFetridge Park a fortress in recent times and will be favoured to continue their dominance on home soil. The main threat to that will be Federico Marquez, who struck twice in Wanderers’ season opener. Bay Olympic vs East Coast Bays Olympic Park | Friday 3 April | Kick-off: 2.45pm | Referee: Nick Waldron, vs Assistant Referees: Tom Woo, Paul Mason The visitors are already up against it in this one after a pair of key players, Joe Bresnahan and Alec Solomons, received their marching orders last week. Their absence should play into the hands of a Bay Olympic side with confidence soaring after scoring six against Melville. Dylan Tate is the early golden boot leader after hitting a hat- trick while Bays will also have to keep an eye on Stewart MacKay, who notched a double in the rout. Birkenhead United vs Onehunga Sports Shepherds Park | Friday 3 April | Kick-off: 2.45pm | Referee: Chris Kerr , vs Assistant Referees: Martin Neale, Allan Wilson Both these sides will be keen to kick start their seasons after being held to draws on the road last weekend. Birkenhead will be kicking themselves after blowing a two-goal lead at Western Springs while Onehunga will also be disappointed after failing to beat Waitakere, who finished second-from-bottom in the previous season. Sports have fond memories of Shepherds Park though after recording a 3-0 win there last season. Eastern Suburbs vs Central United Madills Farm | Saturday 4 April | Kick-off: 12noon | Referee: Torres Chang, Assistant Referees: Charles Nothnagel, Peter Lamb vs While this is Suburbs second ‘home’ game, it is the first at their regular base after being forced away from Madills Farm last weekend due to cricket still being played. Three of their first four games are at home so coach Malcolm McPherson will be keen to take advantage of that and get his charges into a pleasing position after the opening weeks. Central have begun well by putting four past Three Kings and will expect to pick up at least a point here. 4 | Programme 2015 50 Years of Local Pride Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier Preview Round 2 Forrest Hill Milford vs Lynn-Avon United Becroft Park | Friday 3 April | Kick-off: 12.30pm | Referee: Wendy McNeely, Assistant Referees: Reza Al Rebea, Rhys Kimber vs The title defence of champions Forrest Hill got off to the worst possible start with a shock 7-1 hiding at Three Kings so now appears to be a good time for Lynn-Avon to visit Becroft Park. There were extenuating circumstances for Forrest Hill’s poor performance though – injuries and other absences have ravaged the squad – and they will surely improve greatly over the coming weeks. Lynn-Avon suffered a mass exodus over the summer and the challenges that will bring for coach George Vale came to the fore last week with a 3-0 loss to Glenfield. Eastern Suburbs vs Three Kings United Madills Farm | Friday 3 April | Kick-off: 1pm | Referee: Torres Chang, vs Assistant Referees: Charles Nothnagel, Peter Lamb This is traditionally one of the highlights of the Women’s Premier calendar and will have even more bite than usual with Suburbs sure to be fired up. They claimed a win over Papatoetoe last week but endured the frustration of having that result overturned due to the fielding of an ineligible player. The best way to get over that disappointment is to pocket another three points but it will be far from easy against a Three Kings side full of confidence after giving the champions a lesson. Papatoetoe AFC vs Claudelands Rovers vs Murdoch Park | Friday 3 April | Kick-off: 1pm | Referee: Neil Tobin, Assistant Referees: Alan Tobin, Caleb Moffatt Papatoetoe had a stroke of luck in mid-week by being awarded the points from their loss to Suburbs so are now in a stronger position than anticipated going into the Easter period. Claudelands could hardly have done any better in the opening round though, showing no mercy to newcomers Norwest in an 11-0 win. Papatoetoe will not know who to attempt to shut down as Bethany Witt, Kate Loye and Tayla Christensen all scored more than once for Claudelands last week. vs Fencibles United vs Norwest United Riverhills Park | Friday 3 April | Kick-off: 1pm | Referee: Greg Woo, Assistant Referees: Kieran Withers, Jessie Dale Norwest’s introduction to life at this level did not exactly go to plan with that heavy loss to Claudelands and they will feel things surely can’t get any worse against Fencibles. Friday’s opponents don’t seem to possess the same potent attacking force of Claudelands but will still be heavily favoured to take all the points. vs Scoring was an issue for Fencibles last season and they drew a blank again in their first up defeat to Western Springs so will be keen to make a few entries into the goals-for column. Western Springs AFC vs Glenfield Rovers Seddon Fields | Friday 3 April | Kick-off: 1pm | Referee: Sarah Williamson, Assistant Referees: Robert Swiney, Charlie Tseng Springs have not been a contender since winning the league in 2008 but with virtually an entire new squad in place and former Eastern Suburbs boss Rico Wilson at the helm, the good times could well be returning – a suspicion strengthened by the 3-0 win over Fencibles. In Rebecca Tegg, Springs have one of the most lethal goalscorers in the league but Glenfield also possess such a figure – last season’s Women’s Premier player of the year Katie Rood. Whoever comes out on top in this battle of the strikers could well win the game for their side. | 5 Lotto NRFL Division 1 Preview Round 2 Tauranga City United vs North Shore United Links Avenue | Friday 3 April | Kick-off: 2.30pm | Referee: John McCoskrie, Assistant Referees: Thomas Fritz, Brett Willis vs Tauranga may be new to the division but could well be promotion contenders after their dominance of the second division last year and a promising win over Hibiscus Coast, one of those fighting to go up in 2014.