United title favourites if they defeat City Rovers

The race for this season's Central League football competition is down to three teams.

Still in with a fighting chance are Wairarapa United, Napier City Rovers and Miramar Rangers.

After the latest series of matches during which Wairarapa United and Napier City Rovers suffered upset defeats, Wairarapa United and Wellington Olympic head the points table with 37 points, with Napier City Rovers on 33pts and Miramar Rangers on 28pts.

Of that quartet only Wellington Olympic have completed their full muster of 18 games, a situation which takes them out of the title reckoning.

Wairarapa United will end their league campaign when they confront Napier City Rovers in Napier on Sunday, while Napier City Rovers will wind up their programme when they play Miramar Rangers on September 2.

Miramar Rangers have four games to come - Maycenvale United next weekend, followed by Petone, Napier City Rovers and Lower Hutt City.

The best case scenario for the three title contenders is Wairarapa United and Miramar Rangers finishing with 40s and Napier City Rovers 39.

You would have to fancy the chances of Wairarapa United winning the Central League title for the very first time if they can beat Napier City Rovers on Sunday.

The only danger to them then would be Miramar Rangers, who would have to win their last four games in succession to draw level with them, a huge task.

If that did happen the first countback to decide the overall league winner would be on goal differential. Presently, Wairarapa United have a differential of plus 18 and Miramar Rangers plus 14 but, with Miramar Rangers having a couple of the weaker teams still to play, that could change dramatically in their favour between now and the end of their season.