While Tauranga Moana are blazing towards promotion, third-placed Franklin United are fighting to keep alive their hopes of catching the Lotto NRFL Women’s Championship leaders.

Franklin trail Tauranga by ten points but have two games in hand, and get the chance to reduce the gap when they host the Bay of Plenty side today, Sunday, August 11.

For Tauranga, the match could provide their toughest remaining hurdle in the fixture run-in.

Another victory for Tauranga would put them one step closer to securing promotion to the Lotto NRFL Premiership, but Franklin are no pushover.

In other fixtures, steadfast Birkenhead United, fresh from a surprise 1-0 win over Onehunga Sports last weekend, will square off against mid-table rivals Melville United.

It could be a match decided by fine margins. The sides’ last meeting ended in a 2-2 stalemate.

Central United face Northern Rovers, while Manukau United welcome second-placed Onehunga Sports.

A Central United victory this weekend, coupled with a Manukau United loss. would seal Manukau’s relegation to the NRF Women’s Conference.

Golden Boot:

20 — Britney Cunningham-Lee (Franklin United)
15 — Grace Duncan (Tauranga Moana)
14 — Briana Osborne (Tauranga Moana), Sarah Carpenter (Franklin United)
11 — Laura Bennett (Melville United)
10 — Annie Byrne (Onehunga Sports)
9 — Ivy Calonne (Northern Rovers)
8 — Holly Patterson (Onehunga Sports)
7 — Kerri-Ann Jones (Tauranga Moana), Abi-Witney Collins (Tauranga Moana), Pip Meo (Onehunga Sports)
6 — Jaime Govind (Birkenhead United), Sylvia McDougall (Central United)
5 — Chloe Marthe (Franklin United), Kate Mori (Tauranga Moana), Mia Humphrey (Melville United), Robyn Fisher (Onehunga Sports)

Fixtures:

Games to be played on Sunday August 11, 2024

Melville United v Birkenhead United
Gower Park, Hamilton, 1pm

Franklin United v Tauranga Moana
Drury Sports Complex, Drury, 1pm

Central United v Northern Rovers
Kiwitea St, Sandringham, 1pm

Onehunga Sports v Manukau United
Waikaraka Park, Onehunga, 1pm

Joan Grey/Friends of Football