Top Four Drawn Together  

Round 9 of the Southern League (SL) see's the top four sides drawn together. Second placed Cashmere Technical host leader's Christchurch United at Garrick Memorial Park at 2:45pm on Saturday with pressure on Tech to halt United's 8 game winning running or United will be clear favourites to claim back-to-back titles. On Sunday at 1:30pm, fourth placed Coastal Spirit go head-to-head with third placed Dunedin City Royals at Linfield Park. In other games, fifth placed Ferrymead Bays will be looking to halt their three-game losing run when traveling south to face Green Island (7th) at Sunnyvale at midday on Saturday. Thirty minutes earlier, FC Twenty11 host Nelson Suburbs at Avonhead Park. The final game of the round see's bottomed placed Nomads host 8th placed Selwyn at Tulett Park at 2:45pm .

On form United will be favoured to come out on top of Technical, with the latter still yet to hit top form week in week out. Both teams have been untroubled to find the back of the net with the leagues two top scorers in action, Garbhan Coughlan for Tech and United's Sam Philip. Both are on 12 SL goals with United having the better defensive record, only conceding twice to Tech's 12. The game will also double as a Hurley Shield Challenge, with United last holding the Shield back in 2012.       

Form:
Technical W D W W L W
United W W W W W W 
Previous League Head-to-Head: Technical 1 Win, United 1 Win          

Coastal have somewhat slipped under the radar after dropping their opening two games but with only one loss in the last six they have climbed into fourth spot. They are currently six points behind the Royals, who are likely to be Coastal's hardest test in recent rounds. Coastal will need to produce a solid 90-minute performance, after 'running cold' after the break which has not seen them score in the SL during the second half. The Royals have been strong in all areas so far this season and know that a fourth win on the bounce will set them up for a strong challenge for a top two finish in the second half of the season.  

Form:
Coastal: W D W L W W
Royals L W D W W W
Previous League Head-to-Head: Coastal 1 Win, 1 Draw 

Green Island are chasing their third home win of the season when they face Bays to put distant between themselves and the drop zone. They battled hard in the previous round when going down to the Royals. Bays have been leaking goals in recent weeks, conceding 15 goals in the last three league games, and will be hoping the injuries suffered in recent weeks are on the improve.   

Form:
Green Island L L L L W L               
Bays D L W L L L                                                           
Previous League Head-to-Head: Bays 2 Wins 

FC and Suburbs meet for the first time with FC yet to consistently find their scoring touch but will take heart after pushing United all the way, before going down to a goal scored deep into added time. Suburbs have suffered only one loss in the last six rounds but three draws - all after leading - have cost them points which would have seen them sit in the top half of the table.   

Form:
FC Twenty 11 L W L L W L
Suburbs: D W D W L D 
Previous League Head-to-Head: This is the first time the clubs have met in the SL 

Nomads and Selwyn come into their clash separated by just two points. Nomads have found their scoring touch in recent weeks which has secured them 4 points, while Selwyn find themselves sitting on a five-game losing streak. Nomads picked up a valuable point, when coming from behind to draw away to Suburbs last Sunday. Selwyn have been on the wrong end of three one goal scorelines, with both knowing a win would ease any immediate relegation worries.        

Form:
Nomads L L L W L D
Selwyn W L L L L L
Previous League Head-to-Head: Nomads 1 Win, 1 Draw  

Race Heats Up

Moving into the 2nd third of the New World Premiership, the battle for top spots this heating up with now just three points between the leading four sides. The top two, Parklands and Halswell square off at Halswell Domain at 2:45pm. At the same time, third placed Universities are away to Burwood at Clare Park. The other two games will kick-off at 12:30pm with fourth placed Cashmere Technical hosing Waimak at English Park and Nomads will be looking to return to winning form when they take on Western at Tulett Park.  

All On In Final Round

There is plenty riding on all three games in the final round of the Women's South Island Qualifying League (WSIQL). In what is the title decider, Cashmere Technical face Coastal Spirit SAS at Garrick Memorial Park at 12:30pm with Technical needing the win to pip Coastal, with a draw enough for Coastal to finish on top. At midday Nelson Suburbs need a point or better against Halswell Christchurch United at Saxton Fields to secure a top four finish and claim a place in the South Island League (SIL). Universities, who currently sit in third place, host Selwyn at English Park at 2:45pm, with Selwyn needing the win to secure a top four finish.  

Technical and Coastal have dominated the local competitions in recent seasons and they go head-to head for the first time this season to find the SQL champion, in what is effectively a winner take all as goal difference is not being used to determine top position, if the two are level on points, but the head-to-head result.     

Form:
Technical: W Bye L W W W 
Coastal SAS: Bye W W W W       

On form Suburbs will be expected to be too strong for Halswell who have struggled in the top league this season with just a draw to date to show. 

Form:
Suburbs: W W L Bye L L
Halswell: D L L L Bye L 

Universities have been on good form in recent rounds with two wins on the bounce to push for a SIL spot, with Selwyn coming into the game off the bye knowing what they need to do to if they wish to grab a SIL spot.     

Form:
Universities: D L Bye L W W
Selwyn: L L W W L Bye      

Championship Back On

The New World Women's Championship returns on Saturday after the previous rounds was postponed with leaders Universities Maroon having a derby game against Universities Gold at Ilam Fields. Second placed Halswell are away to third placed Cashmere Technical at Garrick Memorial Park with the final game seeing Waimak hosting FC Nomads at Kendall Park. All three games kick-off at 12:30pm. Coastal Spirit SAS have the bye.

Article added: Friday 26 May 2023