A two-legged home and away play-off series will decide whether Waiheke United or Cambridge will play in next year’s Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship.
Waiheke United clinched the Lotto NRFL Men’s Northern Conference title with a 5-2 win against Waitemata in their final fixture.
With the title came the right to meet Cambridge, winners of the Lotto NRFL Men’s Southern Conference, in the play-off series.
The games are expected to be played on September 14 and 21, 2024, subject to confirmation by Northern Region Football.
Cambridge have announced on social media they will host the first leg at John Kerkhof Park, on Saturday September 14.
Cambridge have so far had the almost perfect season, winning all 21 of their Conference fixtures and suffering their only loss in the Chatham Cup to Oceania club champions Auckland City.
Cambridge … won the Lotto NRFL Southern Conference without dropping a point. Photo credit: Cambridge.The winner of the play-off will replace Franklin United who have been relegated from the Championship after only one season at that level.
Franklin won the 2023 promotion play-off, having won the Northern Conference and beating Southern Conference champions Waikato Unicol for the promotion place.
Meanwhile, latest results from the Northern Conference mean Te Atatu and Oratia United face relegation to next year’s NRF Men’s League One.
Beachlands Maraetai finished third bottom in the Conference, meaning they don’t face automatic relegation.
However, if Cambridge win the promotion play-off, Beachlands Maraetai could also drop to League One to make way for two clubs (Metro and Franklin United) moving down from the Championship.
Central United … 2024 NRF Men’s League One champions. Photo credit: Central United.Central United, who won the League One title, are assured of promotion to the Northern Conference.
Northern Region Conference say the final decisions on Northern Conference relegation are to be confirmed, after the play-offs.
ResultsGames played on Saturday September 7, 2024
Waiheke United 5 (Alan Llunes 7′, Alejo Villasana 9′, 77′, Gaspar Mena 34′, Diego Sepulveda Carvajal 90+3′) Waitemata 2 (Harry Murphy 60′, Arnold Kochasira 65′)
Northland 4 (Mikael Munday 59′, Fumiya Ito 63′, 67′, William Gross 79′) Bucklands Beach 5 (Danny Mackenzie 20′, 37′, Sander Waterland 26′, 44′, 55′)
Albany United 0 Te Atatu 2 (Marc Porter 16′, Matthew Chant 49′)
Beachlands Maraetai 2 (Alexander Thurbon 52′, Jake Sutherland 90′) Oratia United 0
This story was first published on September 8, 2024.
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