New Zealand Club Football Team Rankings - 28 July 2013

Well the dust has settled following another weekend of action and Cashmere Technical continue to lead the pack after a 1-0 away win over Tier 2 Palmerston North Marist in the Chatham Cup.  I’ve faced a bit of ribbing over the past few weeks – how can a Mainland team beat the best in NZ and Auckland sides not even feature that strongly in the top 10?  I accept that part of this is a function of the way the rankings are calculated, and Mainland teams play more games in their season, giving them the opportunity to accumulate more rankings points.  Another aspect of this is in league were there are perhaps only a few strong teams it is much easier to have a high ranking whereas in the NRPL, I'm reminded, 'there are no easy games'.  Or so the theory goes, but having said that my opinion of the NRPL is that it’s not a strong in 2013 as in recent years.  And have a look a the Cashmere Technical side if your interested - it's packed full of Canterbury Utd players.

Anyway, the Chatham Cup does provide the ability to compare leagues, and as such Wellington Olympic’s come from behind 3-2 win over Caversham AFC is indicative that the gap between the top teams in different leagues perhaps isn’t that great.  ‘The Greeks’ win sees them consolidate their #5 spot in the rankings, while Caversham AFC fall two spots to #4.  The upset of the round was Teir 2 Melville Utd’s home win over NRPL front-runners Birkenhead Utd, Birkenhead drop three places to #9.  And in the other Quarter-Final Waitakere City’s new look side demolished Onehunga Sports 7-0; they rise to #19 in the rankings - their fine run of form makes it seem very likely they will stave off relegation and, in my book, makes them favourites to win the Cup as well.

Elsewhere, Miramar Rangers enjoyed a fine 4-1 win over rivals Western Suburbs that sees them climb one to #3. Ferrymead Bays are up one as well to #6 following a 1-1 away draw at Nelson Suburbs.  And also edging up one spot to #7 in their run toward the NRPL title are with East Coast Bays with a hard-fought 2-1 win over relegation bound Manurewa AFC. Finally Dunedin Technical scored a big 6-1 win over FSPL strugglers Queenstown Rovers that lifts them to #9.

Next week’s league games sees some vital clashes.  Birkenhead Utd and Hamilton Wanderers face off in a game that will be key to the NRPL championship, and if East Coast Bays want to secure their place at the top of the NRPL they will have to get past an Ellerslie AFC side embroiled in a relegation battle.  In the CPL Wellington Olympic face a tough away game against Western Suburbs, and neither will it be plain sailing for Cashmere Technical who are at home to Nelson Suburbs.  Also in a relegation battle are Mosgiel AFC; they face FSPL leaders Dunedin Technical in what could also be one of the season’s defining games.

Ranking	Team	Points	Change
1	Cashmere Technical	1198.74	0
2	Roslyn Wakari	1182.96	1
3	Miramar Rangers	1182.63	1
4	Caversham AFC	1182.08	-2
5	Wellington Olympic	1181.07	0
6	Ferrymead Bays	1179.07	1
7	East Coast Bays	1176.62	1
8	Dunedin Technical	1175.50	1
9	Birkenhead Utd	1175.19	-3
10	Lower Hutt City	1172.60	0
11	Nelson Suburbs	1170.60	0
12	Wairarapa Utd	1168.67	2
13	Hamilton Wanderers	1163.75	-1
14	Western Suburbs	1163.43	-1
15	Western	1160.68	1
16	Green Island	1160.63	-1
17	Otago University	1158.69	0
18	Three Kings Utd	1157.02	1
19	Waitakere City	1156.86	2
20	Central Utd	1152.99	2
21	Petone	1151.13	3
22	Bay Olympic	1150.70	1
23	Napier City Rovers	1150.04	-5
24	Onehunga Sports	1148.93	-4
25	Coastal Spirit	1145.66	0
26	Northern AFC	1144.73	0
27	Halswell Utd	1139.85	0
28	Mosgiel	1137.37	0
29	Ellerslie AFC	1133.92	0
30	Upper Hutt City	1132.56	0
31	Invercargill Old Boys	1129.81	1
32	Queenstown Rovers	1127.55	-1
33	Nomads Utd	1122.27	0
34	Manurewa AFC	1120.74	0
35	Tawa	1119.29	1
36	Grants Braes	1117.89	-1
37	Wellington Utd	1114.60	0
38	FC Twenty11	1101.12	0