November 21, 2025 • 11 mins
Adam Cooper previews the latest rounds in the women's and men's National Football Leagues.
It's the final round in the women's competition ahead of next week's final, and Hannah Wignall explains how Wellington United can sneak into the 1 v 2 playoff game.
Dale Warburton gives an update for the penultimate round of the men's competition.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
National League Football for the women's competition. The teams are
into the final round this weekend, then the top two
go and square off in the final next weekend. So
let's have a look at the games. Of course, there's
one Wellington team still in the mix. Hannah Wignell is
with us. Morning to you, Hannah, good morning, right. So yes,
Wellington United third at the moment, one point back from
(00:20):
Eastern Suburbs who hold that second and final spot for
next week's decider. Of course, Auckland United. It's five points
clear at the top of the table. So it's certainly
all on for Wellington United, and of course they'll be
hinging on the hopes of one other Wellington team in particular,
won't they.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Yeah, it's a really exciting final round and you know,
even if the hopes are slim, they're there. And I
think we've I'm not sure if you've got any Scottish listeners,
but what an exciting World Cup qualifying match they've had
this week against Denmark, a huge underdog story. It'll go
(01:00):
down in history. Scotland won four two in a really
intense battle with some world plus goals and I think
you know, not to take things too seriously. But that's
the kind of energy that the Wellington teams could bring
into this week. You know that anything is possible mentality.
Time and time again, there are examples of an underdog
(01:21):
story coming into fruition and so I think, you know
it is possible, and to to be a coach and
to not push that message really really hard, I think
would be doing a disservice to the players and who
know that they've got it in them. So yeah, the
first the first game, Wellington United versus Auckland United. Hosting
(01:44):
top of the table, you know, is tricky, but it
is at home, it's in It's in Patny Memorial. This week,
as predicted. Last week, United had a comfortable win against
Central Big nine to one nine nil sorry, a hat
trick for Summerlaski and a double hat trick for Maggie Jenkins,
(02:06):
which is pretty pretty impressive. Auckland United, on the other hand,
they secured a two nil win against middle of the table,
but not as convincing as we thought we'd see from them.
That being said, Auckland have had seven wins and one
draw this season and so getting a result against Auckland
(02:29):
will be tricky. United will have to bring that underdog
mentality to this game, and they will have to hope
that per Tony bring even more of that to their
game against Eastern Suburbs. United have a number of outstanding
players from defense to attack, and it is entirely possible.
(02:51):
I think this will be an end of amazing end
of the season for them, particularly if they can pull
off a result.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yes, all right, it's one thing. See the Safternoon for
that one. Tomorrow's action the Phoenix Academy. They have West
Coast Rangers now pointing out that Rangers are level on
points with Wellington United in that third spot. But of
course United's great goalscoring form these last few weeks have
them miles ahead on goal difference, so they're probably not
too much of a threat presuming United can have the win, Hannah.
(03:20):
But I'm sure they'll be hoping that the Phoenix reserves
can show some Wellington pride in this one too.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah. I think the Phoenix will you know, will want
to owe it to They owe it to themselves to
pull off a result here. You know, they're currently sitting
six in the league on ten points. They've got a
goal difference of minus five and you know, you talked
about West Coast Rangers where they're sitting in the league.
There's no chance in the Phoenix jumping much further above them,
(03:47):
but they can end the season on a high. Last week,
the Phoenix had a cracking game against Western Springs in
Lower Hut, perhaps their best of the season. The game
was tied to to until the final minutes where McDonald
clinched the winner for the Phoenix. And what is really
cool to see is that these young players found something
in the tank in the last fifteen minutes. You know,
(04:09):
you're not often a young team can be unpredictable. They're fits,
you know, they're they're fast, they're creative, but like knowing
how they'll perform as a unit when games are tough,
when you do need to deliver something in the last
minutes of a game. So that's really awesome to see.
I understand stand that that was the only time that
(04:31):
the Phoenix reserves have ever beaten the club from Auckland,
So I think that's pretty cool achievement. So ride that
high end the season. Well, they've got nothing to lose
and so it's a really good chance for players to
prove themselves this week.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Okay, right, let's go to this big game, Pa Tony,
traveling out to suburbs, so Eastern suburbs of course, second
on the letter and then getting well denied a winner
is pretty much Wellington United's only chance, Hannah, Pa TONI
are the ones trying to do this. Do you know
what the rivalry is like between Pattoni and Wellington United?
How much will they be wanting to play for that
more than their own high in the season.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
I look, I wish I'd gone into the camp and
asked a couple of Patony players prior to us chatting.
I think I'd probably get some mixed results. You do
have a number of players in this Patony squad that
aren't you know, blue through and through. They've come from
other teams, so I think that's probably a little bit
(05:31):
of an appetite to to see a Wellington team get
in the final. That being said, in the Central League,
we've seen the Pattoni right Wellington United Coulori rivalry grow
and grow over the last few years as k As
(05:52):
Patoni have gotten stronger and stronger, and so I do
think that rivalry is alive and well if they can
put it to one and think about doing a result
for ours city then that could be really cool. You know,
they also have nothing left to lose. They've they've had
a very good first season. It's in the National League.
(06:14):
It's not been quite what they'd hoped, but though they've
taken some wins and they've learned a lot, and each
player in the team will be better for it, and
our Central League next year will be a stronger league
because of it. So I don't have a definitive answer
for you on whether they can put the local rival
re aside. Maybe the coach can call you up and
(06:36):
quick and let you know. But the coach should be
proud if they can get a draw against Eastern Suburbs.
I think that still gives United a chance of getting
into that final. So it's a put everything on the line,
you know, do it for yourselves and do it for
the Wellington team, and it could be an amazing end
(06:59):
to the league for.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Wellington indeed, all right, Well, it's great when it comes
down to so many different games and per mutations in
the final round. A lot of interest, especially on that
game tomorrow afternoon. So yep, we'll hope for the best
in terms of a Wellington team making it Hannah, thanks
for your time as always and hopefully hopefully you might
be chatting a final featuring Wellington United next weekend.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Yeah, that would be fun and if not, I'll you
can just leave a silent, silent pause in the in
this segment.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Indeed, Hannah, I appreciate that had a weegnal with our
women's such women's National League coverage. Let's go to the
men's side of things. They've still got two rounds to
play before the top two meet in the decider. Dale
Warburton is local analysts for the men's competition.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Morning tale goo, good morning here.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I'm good and getting quite exciting, isn't it. With a
couple of rounds to go in this competition, Western Springs
at the top sixteen points, Olympic a point further back
in second, Miramar Rangers then a further two back and
third behind them two clubs that are still yet to
have there buy one of those will come this weekend
of course, with Aukland the FC so pretty tight at
(08:02):
the top, with the top two of course playing off
in the final in a couple of week weeks time. Dale,
So for Wellington Olympic it is a big game for
them this afternoon, isn't it at home at Wakefield Park
against christ Church United.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Yeah. They suffered their second loss last week in going
surprisingly down to Auckland. They say they lived early through
Jeanne Berzucus, but considered a long range equalizer before Ralph
Rutherford scored an injury time to condemn one Olympic to
a two one loss. They do remain a second but
the result means Mirram has closed the gap on them.
(08:36):
But they do finish with Auckland United and then mirramar
ranges it after this game, so they're still a little
bit to play for for them. There they host Cross Youchnado,
who are down a fifth four points back, but we
have played one more game, so they're out. They're running
despite a good three one win over Western Suburbs there
so Wellington and they will certainly want to keep back
in the winner circle to make sure they keep their
(08:57):
bus us for the chasing PACKND that's led by Marima.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
All right, Phoenix Reserves have a trip up to Auckland
for Auckland City. I guess pride on the line for
these teams and I guess the chance are some of
the Phoenix Academy players to prove themselves.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, pretty much. I think Autland City pretty much out
of the running if that lost to Mirima last weekend.
They're down six four points back from second, but with
just three games to go, so they kind of relying
on a lot of results to go their way. They
do play top of the table Western Springs next weekend
before finishing with lowly Coastal Spirit, but yeah host in
Phoenix with who scored their second win of the campaign
(09:34):
with one all over Coastal Spirit Luke Flower Drew scored
there was about ten minutes to play discurbed three points
for the Phoenix. After this they finished with Burkenhead and
then Western Suburbs, So yeah, it could have been a
book toie on there. But you think probably all consider
at home will be the pretty comfortable favorites for that one.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Western Suburbs at home against Auckland United have definitely won
for pride. This one.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yeah, bit of forgettable campaign for West. They were on
a pretty hot run of Foreman League but whatever reason
haven't been able to transfer that over into the National League.
They had just the two wins and they went down
three to one to cross Reach last weekend. It was
three and a half time before Finn Diamond pulled one
back in the second half, puts them down and down
an eighth a long way from the From the top
(10:17):
of the table for Auckland United, they set just one
point above them. They came from to one down against
Birkenhead late in the game to win three to two
to jump above Western Suburbs. So yeah, Western I want
to pull their back and sort of hoist themselves towards
the middle of the pack a bit more than down
the bottom, all.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Right, that one at an Endeavor Park tomorrow afternoon. Also
tomorrow remember my Rangers that trip up north to burke
and Hend United and as I said at the start,
Dale there in third in a good position following that
win last week.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Yeah absolutely if chances of a finals appearance with their
excellent three and a win over Auckland Orkland City and
I will see that that loss for one Felind also
helped them close the gap. Martin Buenos scored from the
currently spot before there. I got on the end of
a very dangerous free kick to put them tune up
before half time and then after half half to halftime,
(11:07):
Tim Fenton do exactly the same thing on another wide
free kick to secure three points for them, so they'll
be stoked with that result. And now I guess they're
I guess they're one of three teams really vying for
two spots, So trip up to Birkenhead a bit bit
of a challenge for them, book and Head always use
you pretty pretty handy or despite being sort of in
the mid table at much, they don't really have much
to play for and sit incind of in the the
(11:28):
middle of that pack with three wins and four losses.
So yeah, another important game for Merima in their final
couple of games.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Yeah, all right, all the best to the Wellington teams
bidding for that final Great Dale. Awesome to catch up
as always. Enjoy your weekend and we'll chain next weekend. Yeah,
we'll do talk to them for more from news Talks,
there'd be listen live on air or online and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcast
on IR Radio.
National League Football for the women's competition. The teams are
into the final round this weekend, then the top two
go and square off in the final next weekend. So
let's have a look at the games. Of course, there's
one Wellington team still in the mix. Hannah Wignell is
with us. Morning to you, Hannah, good morning, right. So yes,
Wellington United third at the moment, one point back from
(00:20):
Eastern Suburbs who hold that second and final spot for
next week's decider. Of course, Auckland United. It's five points
clear at the top of the table. So it's certainly
all on for Wellington United, and of course they'll be
hinging on the hopes of one other Wellington team in particular,
won't they.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Yeah, it's a really exciting final round and you know,
even if the hopes are slim, they're there. And I
think we've I'm not sure if you've got any Scottish listeners,
but what an exciting World Cup qualifying match they've had
this week against Denmark, a huge underdog story. It'll go
(01:00):
down in history. Scotland won four two in a really
intense battle with some world plus goals and I think
you know, not to take things too seriously. But that's
the kind of energy that the Wellington teams could bring
into this week. You know that anything is possible mentality.
Time and time again, there are examples of an underdog
(01:21):
story coming into fruition and so I think, you know
it is possible, and to to be a coach and
to not push that message really really hard, I think
would be doing a disservice to the players and who
know that they've got it in them. So yeah, the
first the first game, Wellington United versus Auckland United. Hosting
(01:44):
top of the table, you know, is tricky, but it
is at home, it's in It's in Patny Memorial. This week,
as predicted. Last week, United had a comfortable win against
Central Big nine to one nine nil sorry, a hat
trick for Summerlaski and a double hat trick for Maggie Jenkins,
(02:06):
which is pretty pretty impressive. Auckland United, on the other hand,
they secured a two nil win against middle of the table,
but not as convincing as we thought we'd see from them.
That being said, Auckland have had seven wins and one
draw this season and so getting a result against Auckland
(02:29):
will be tricky. United will have to bring that underdog
mentality to this game, and they will have to hope
that per Tony bring even more of that to their
game against Eastern Suburbs. United have a number of outstanding
players from defense to attack, and it is entirely possible.
(02:51):
I think this will be an end of amazing end
of the season for them, particularly if they can pull
off a result.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yes, all right, it's one thing. See the Safternoon for
that one. Tomorrow's action the Phoenix Academy. They have West
Coast Rangers now pointing out that Rangers are level on
points with Wellington United in that third spot. But of
course United's great goalscoring form these last few weeks have
them miles ahead on goal difference, so they're probably not
too much of a threat presuming United can have the win, Hannah.
(03:20):
But I'm sure they'll be hoping that the Phoenix reserves
can show some Wellington pride in this one too.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah. I think the Phoenix will you know, will want
to owe it to They owe it to themselves to
pull off a result here. You know, they're currently sitting
six in the league on ten points. They've got a
goal difference of minus five and you know, you talked
about West Coast Rangers where they're sitting in the league.
There's no chance in the Phoenix jumping much further above them,
(03:47):
but they can end the season on a high. Last week,
the Phoenix had a cracking game against Western Springs in
Lower Hut, perhaps their best of the season. The game
was tied to to until the final minutes where McDonald
clinched the winner for the Phoenix. And what is really
cool to see is that these young players found something
in the tank in the last fifteen minutes. You know,
(04:09):
you're not often a young team can be unpredictable. They're fits,
you know, they're they're fast, they're creative, but like knowing
how they'll perform as a unit when games are tough,
when you do need to deliver something in the last
minutes of a game. So that's really awesome to see.
I understand stand that that was the only time that
(04:31):
the Phoenix reserves have ever beaten the club from Auckland,
So I think that's pretty cool achievement. So ride that
high end the season. Well, they've got nothing to lose
and so it's a really good chance for players to
prove themselves this week.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Okay, right, let's go to this big game, Pa Tony,
traveling out to suburbs, so Eastern suburbs of course, second
on the letter and then getting well denied a winner
is pretty much Wellington United's only chance, Hannah, Pa TONI
are the ones trying to do this. Do you know
what the rivalry is like between Pattoni and Wellington United?
How much will they be wanting to play for that
more than their own high in the season.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
I look, I wish I'd gone into the camp and
asked a couple of Patony players prior to us chatting.
I think I'd probably get some mixed results. You do
have a number of players in this Patony squad that
aren't you know, blue through and through. They've come from
other teams, so I think that's probably a little bit
(05:31):
of an appetite to to see a Wellington team get
in the final. That being said, in the Central League,
we've seen the Pattoni right Wellington United Coulori rivalry grow
and grow over the last few years as k As
(05:52):
Patoni have gotten stronger and stronger, and so I do
think that rivalry is alive and well if they can
put it to one and think about doing a result
for ours city then that could be really cool. You know,
they also have nothing left to lose. They've they've had
a very good first season. It's in the National League.
(06:14):
It's not been quite what they'd hoped, but though they've
taken some wins and they've learned a lot, and each
player in the team will be better for it, and
our Central League next year will be a stronger league
because of it. So I don't have a definitive answer
for you on whether they can put the local rival
re aside. Maybe the coach can call you up and
(06:36):
quick and let you know. But the coach should be
proud if they can get a draw against Eastern Suburbs.
I think that still gives United a chance of getting
into that final. So it's a put everything on the line,
you know, do it for yourselves and do it for
the Wellington team, and it could be an amazing end
(06:59):
to the league for.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Wellington indeed, all right, Well, it's great when it comes
down to so many different games and per mutations in
the final round. A lot of interest, especially on that
game tomorrow afternoon. So yep, we'll hope for the best
in terms of a Wellington team making it Hannah, thanks
for your time as always and hopefully hopefully you might
be chatting a final featuring Wellington United next weekend.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Yeah, that would be fun and if not, I'll you
can just leave a silent, silent pause in the in
this segment.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Indeed, Hannah, I appreciate that had a weegnal with our
women's such women's National League coverage. Let's go to the
men's side of things. They've still got two rounds to
play before the top two meet in the decider. Dale
Warburton is local analysts for the men's competition.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Morning tale goo, good morning here.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I'm good and getting quite exciting, isn't it. With a
couple of rounds to go in this competition, Western Springs
at the top sixteen points, Olympic a point further back
in second, Miramar Rangers then a further two back and
third behind them two clubs that are still yet to
have there buy one of those will come this weekend
of course, with Aukland the FC so pretty tight at
(08:02):
the top, with the top two of course playing off
in the final in a couple of week weeks time. Dale,
So for Wellington Olympic it is a big game for
them this afternoon, isn't it at home at Wakefield Park
against christ Church United.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Yeah. They suffered their second loss last week in going
surprisingly down to Auckland. They say they lived early through
Jeanne Berzucus, but considered a long range equalizer before Ralph
Rutherford scored an injury time to condemn one Olympic to
a two one loss. They do remain a second but
the result means Mirram has closed the gap on them.
(08:36):
But they do finish with Auckland United and then mirramar
ranges it after this game, so they're still a little
bit to play for for them. There they host Cross Youchnado,
who are down a fifth four points back, but we
have played one more game, so they're out. They're running
despite a good three one win over Western Suburbs there
so Wellington and they will certainly want to keep back
in the winner circle to make sure they keep their
(08:57):
bus us for the chasing PACKND that's led by Marima.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
All right, Phoenix Reserves have a trip up to Auckland
for Auckland City. I guess pride on the line for
these teams and I guess the chance are some of
the Phoenix Academy players to prove themselves.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, pretty much. I think Autland City pretty much out
of the running if that lost to Mirima last weekend.
They're down six four points back from second, but with
just three games to go, so they kind of relying
on a lot of results to go their way. They
do play top of the table Western Springs next weekend
before finishing with lowly Coastal Spirit, but yeah host in
Phoenix with who scored their second win of the campaign
(09:34):
with one all over Coastal Spirit Luke Flower Drew scored
there was about ten minutes to play discurbed three points
for the Phoenix. After this they finished with Burkenhead and
then Western Suburbs, So yeah, it could have been a
book toie on there. But you think probably all consider
at home will be the pretty comfortable favorites for that one.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Western Suburbs at home against Auckland United have definitely won
for pride. This one.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yeah, bit of forgettable campaign for West. They were on
a pretty hot run of Foreman League but whatever reason
haven't been able to transfer that over into the National League.
They had just the two wins and they went down
three to one to cross Reach last weekend. It was
three and a half time before Finn Diamond pulled one
back in the second half, puts them down and down
an eighth a long way from the From the top
(10:17):
of the table for Auckland United, they set just one
point above them. They came from to one down against
Birkenhead late in the game to win three to two
to jump above Western Suburbs. So yeah, Western I want
to pull their back and sort of hoist themselves towards
the middle of the pack a bit more than down
the bottom, all.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Right, that one at an Endeavor Park tomorrow afternoon. Also
tomorrow remember my Rangers that trip up north to burke
and Hend United and as I said at the start,
Dale there in third in a good position following that
win last week.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Yeah absolutely if chances of a finals appearance with their
excellent three and a win over Auckland Orkland City and
I will see that that loss for one Felind also
helped them close the gap. Martin Buenos scored from the
currently spot before there. I got on the end of
a very dangerous free kick to put them tune up
before half time and then after half half to halftime,
(11:07):
Tim Fenton do exactly the same thing on another wide
free kick to secure three points for them, so they'll
be stoked with that result. And now I guess they're
I guess they're one of three teams really vying for
two spots, So trip up to Birkenhead a bit bit
of a challenge for them, book and Head always use
you pretty pretty handy or despite being sort of in
the mid table at much, they don't really have much
to play for and sit incind of in the the
(11:28):
middle of that pack with three wins and four losses.
So yeah, another important game for Merima in their final
couple of games.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Yeah, all right, all the best to the Wellington teams
bidding for that final Great Dale. Awesome to catch up
as always. Enjoy your weekend and we'll chain next weekend. Yeah,
we'll do talk to them for more from news Talks,
there'd be listen live on air or online and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcast
on IR Radio.
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