It is crunch time in the Dunedin women’s premier grade.
Defending champions Alhambra-Union will play University at the North Ground in one semifinal today, while Dunedin will host Clutha in the other at Kettle Park.
The competition has been close this season.
AU, Dunedin and Clutha all finished the round robin with six wins from eight games.
AU took top spot courtesy of their eight bonus points and will get to play University, who won just two of their eight games, and one of those was a win by default.
Both of the "wins" were over the Waitaki Wāhine, who went winless this season.
While University have not had a heap of good results, they have been more competitive than the competition standings suggest.
They suffered a 28-14 loss to AU in April and a 43-17 defeat in early June.
The other semifinal should be a competitive fixture as well, though Dunedin have had the wood on Clutha.
They beat them 40-24 at home in April and 62-19 at the Toko Domain later in the season.
Clutha are more than capable, though. They were the only team to beat AU this season, inflicting two losses on the defending champions.
AU coach Cathy Charles said University were a young team.
"They’ve lost a lot of senior players, so it is kind of a rebuilding year for them. But I know we can’t take them lightly because the last time we played them I think we were down 17-12 at halftime or something."
AU can lean on a clutch of experienced players who have played at higher level.
Prop Eilis Doyle and loosies Zoe Frood and Bella Rewiri-Wharerau are key players up front for AU, while halfback Georgia Cormick and outside back Jamie Church are both Matatū players.
They have a lot of talent and will start favourites.
