ISPS Handa Women's Premiership

Draw for 2016 season out today

No NZ development team this year - the U17s will be away at the World Cup in Jordon for 4 of the rounds

Mainland Pride decide to compete with WaiBop for worst name and change theirs to Canterbury United Pride

Only 3 home games for Capital v Central, Southern and Northern - when will they make this league home and away?

My picks

1 Northern

2 Pride

3 Auckland

4 WaiBOP

5 Capital

6 Central

7 Southern

A lot of the players who made NFF strong last year are playing for AFF clubs this winter so it will be interesting to see where they play in the spring. AFF clubs dominated the Northern League - will that translate to the NWL? Will the Claudelands players who moved to Auckland for the winter go back home and play for WaiBOP again? 

Capital Football name squad

no disrespect to those involved - but based on that squad they are likely to be competing v the central and southerns. If they prove me wrong then they have done well.

Who else would you have in it?

They have selected 17 players from the top 2 Central League teams (Wellington United & Upper Hutt City) and 3 of those are U17 Internationals.

I would have thought Upper Hutt's Cushla Litchwark & Briar Sargent and possibly Seatoun's Julia Baldwin would have been in with a shout, but then they may not have trialed 

Cushla might have decided to have a break after the Olympics omission... which would have been disappointing after being picked for almost every ferns squad leading up to the event. As long as Ana backs herself she will do well. I think the other keeper Natasha is coming back from injury (I heard she didn't trial... possibly because of this).

Briar hanging up the boots because Wendi isn't coaching this year perhaps? Julia is overseas for most of the league.

Sad that Annie is not back in the mix. I wonder if she ever will play for Capital again?

I thought the dominant CB from United would have made the team (has previously played in the W-league). Maika I think?
Hope Gilchrist has gone to the US on a scholarship.

Also I thought young Elizabeth Crowe would've had a shot. She was on Gareth's radar for the U17s and is an impressive player.

Did any girls from Stop Out or Wairarapa trial?

I was surprised to see Tessa in the team after not trialling. Last year I think she suffered playing in the Dunedin league and never quite recovered her match fitness to be at her best for the National League. Previous seasons she was instrumental but last season she didn't seem to have the same fire and drive. Hopefully she has that back this year...

Having so many players from the two top teams will help the team gel pretty quickly on the field. In saying that it will be a big loss with the three U17 girls away.

Michaela Robertson too will most likely be away with the NZ U20s. She continues to get better and better in front of goal and of course was golden boot for the CL this year so will leave a big gap in the goal scoring, x-factor department.

Good to see Briar back! 

Team/Clubs

Wellington United

Natasha Ingram

Francesca Grange

Ella Wilson

Samantha Kendrick

Jayme-Lee Hunter

Asha Strom

Hannah Wignall

Michaela Robertson

Maggie Jenkins

Upper Hutt

Emma Lavery

Katie Barrott

Mikaela Hunt

Danielle Turton

Kennedy Bryant

Lena de Ronde

Emily Morison

Emma Main

Seatoun

Anna Wittmann-Wenzel

Grace Surridge

Sarah Marsden

Other

Briar Palmer - Aus

Tessa McPherson - Dunedin

Maya Hahn - Western Suburbs

Nicole Baird - Vic Uni

I am not saying they could have done much differently with selections. It is what it is. Fact is the quality and depth has dropped in the region.

I can't quite remember exactly why, but Tash was pretty adamant she wouldn't be playing. It was more of a preventive measure I think. I'm somewhat surprised she's in the squad.

Maika is going back to Aus once her work contract is up. Well, that was the plan anyway...

Liz was mainly a squad player for the Diamonds this season, though she did pick up quite well towards the end of the season (and got a great goal in the season finale). She's certainly a good player. Maybe it's a season too early, or maybe she didn't trial.

totally !!!!!! the level is going down...

Here's my NWL season preview for anyone who is interested! :-)

https://in-the-back-of-the.net/2016/10/13/the-best-league-in-the-land/

Good first up away win to Canterbury United Pride 4 - 1 over Auckland FF.

Round 1 Results

Canterbury Utd 4 Auckland 1

WaiBop 2 Capital 2

Central 0 Northern 3

Southern Utd BYE

Good result for Capital. Anyone see it?

Yes, 3-0 got some photos here (there were more photographers at this game than the SS Premiership game on Saturday!) and will have a write up on my site later today

Here's my write up on the game

Yeah. They dominated in the first half, hit the post a few times, could have had 6 or 7. Central changed tactics at half time, then it got very compressed, and was fairly even. It was a pretty good game.

good win v Akld. Sounds like Briar Palmer is huge for the team- but everyone must be doing their bit.

Highlights from the Auckland v Capital game - cracking volley by Maggie Jenkins for the 2nd goal

They have done well and proved you wrong - had a great hard fought 2-1 win over Northern today, goals to Jayme-Lee Hunter & super sub Emily Morison

so despite only losing 1 game, they now have to wait on other results to see if they make the top 3

as it currently sits 

1st Capital 13 pts

2nd Northern 12 pts

3rd Canterbury 12 pts

4th WaiBOP 10 pts

next games are Northern v WaiBOP & Canterbury v Central

assuming Canterbury should beat Central and finish on 15 points then

If Northern beat WaiBOP, they will finish top, Canterbury 2nd and Capital will be 3rd

If Northern & WaiBOP draw, that would leave Canterbury on top, Capital 2nd with a home semi against 3rd place Northern

If WaiBOP win, Canterbury would finish top, with Capital & WaiBOP next, not sure in which order as the decider is head to head which was 1-1, and apparently the next decider isn't goal difference but yellow cards 

This league really should have 2 rounds

I take it that you mean, will have to wait to see where they finish in the top three... :)

And agree, should definitely be two rounds. NZF can get a heap of money from FIFA right niw for the National League so I don't see why it's not two rounds...

Aye that's what I meant - think I wasn't sure when started typing and forgot to change it

anyway, here is my report on the game and some photos

C'mon on Central this week, and hope Northern v WaiBop is a draw

Interested by your last sentence there...

Hmm only one federation in nz supports a two round league apparently.

Mainland or Northern?

Mainland.  Never grow the game, support base, sponsors, media etc without a proper competition rather than a kick about!  How good would a second round be now?!!

Dramatic final day. Canterbury draws with Central and Northern lose to WaiBop meaning Canterbury, Capital and WaiBop all finish on 13 points with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 lost a piece. Northern miss out on the playoffs after losing twice at the end to Capital and WaiBop finishing on 12 points.

Think it means by the tie breaker that Canterbury finish first and Capital has the playoff game a true home against WaiBop

It does - Capital play WaiBOP in the semi final on Sunday 4th dec 1pm KO at Petone Memorial

Winner goes to Christchurch to take on Canterbury United Pride in the final a week later

Date and time yet to be confirmed for the Grand Final.

How's the quality been (compared to previous years)?

From a Capital point of view immensely better

I had a chat with Emma & Sam about it wrote this for my blog

Grand Final KO time has been comfirmed at 4pm on the 11th December..

What an unbelievable game today between Cap Football and WaiBop, it had everything. Red card to the keeper, 96th minute equaliser to force extra time. Penalties and replacement keeper saving two WaiBop penalties to win it for Capital. Was a great watch and had a great crowd there to watch it all. 

was a good watch. Capital deserved it. They played at least as good with ten men as they did with the full quota.

I'm not surprised that they won with 10 men playing....

Regardless, congrats to Capital and good luck in the final

Highlights of the game

Wow, that's great quality footage and nicely edited. The video is a great advertisement for the quality of the league I reckon.

Nice work!

fantastic game, congratulations to Capital, lets hope they can do it against Canterbury on sunday

here is my write up on the game

http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/Scoreboard/young_f...

This should be a great game. Amazing the Pride's Aimee Phillip's is chasing her fourth winner's medal in as many years.