Reigning champions Wellington United were in dominant form this week in the Central Region Premier Women's League, scoring two victories contrasting in fashion to take a vice-like grip on the competition one-third of the way into the season. In a game transferred to Petone Memorial Park the night before the capital was subjected to Mother Nature's worst, the league leaders tore into Miramar Rangers from the outset, Natalie Olson leading the charge with two first half goals. Farina Anchico chimed in before Carolyn O'Reilly struck either side of the half-time whistle, with Taylor Watson and captain Zoe Barrott responsible for bringing about the final 7-0 scoreline. Saturday saw "The Diamonds" taking on a tougher task at the same venue, with Petone taking the lead halfway through the first half, Kyra Elder on target after the league leaders had lost the services of O'Reilly to an eleventh minute injury. It remained that way until halfway through the second spell, when the "Ace of Diamonds", Hannah Pilley, pulled her team out of the fire with an equaliser. Six minutes later, half-time substitute Jasmine Burnard-Leppinus gave United the lead, and Olson confirmed their 3-1 win in stoppage time. Goals in each half from Katie Pugh earned Wellington Phoenix a 2-0 win over Marist Palmerston North at Arena Manawatu, but there was better news for the travelling team from the northern outpost, with Palmerston North United recording their first win of the season, Annabel Irwin's goal after half-an-hour enough to overcome Victoria University at Boyd Wilson Park. Miramar bounced back from their midweek mauling by overcoming Moturoa 2-0 at Onuku Taipari Domain - it was a great day to be playing away on Saturday, by and large! First half goals from Crystal Phillips and Jacque Broughton ensured it was a happy bus trip back to the capital for Rangers. Taradale's trip home wasn't such a happy one, as they copped a 4-0 hiding from Waterside Karori at Karori Park, where "The Magpies" had Nicola Ross, Renee Bacon and Sherize Concessio to thank for their half-time advantage, which Taylor Cooper extended soon after the interval. Next Saturday, the students welcome the Phoenix to Boyd Wilson Park in the only league game scheduled. Four of the other Premier League teams will be involved in Kate Sheppard Cup action, with "The Diamonds" and Petone doing it all again, this time at Newtown Park on Saturday, the day on which Seatoun visits Te Kotahitanga's Mazengarb Park home. Sunday's cup ties see Taradale heading to Arena Manawatu to take on Marist Palmerston North, while North Wellington and Upper Hutt City square off at Alex Moore Park, with the four winners joining Miramar, "The Magpies", Victoria University and Wellington Phoenix in the last 32. Details: Wellington United 7 (N. Olson (12, 39), F. Anchico (19), C. O'Reilly (35, 65), T. Watson (67), Z. Barrott (83)), Miramar Rangers 0  HT 4-0 Marist Palmerston North 0, Wellington Phoenix 2 (K. Pugh (40, 62))  HT 0-1 Moturoa 0, Miramar Rangers 2 (C. Phillips (12), J. Broughton (32))  HT 0-2 Petone 1 (K. Elder (21)), Wellington United 3 (H. Pilley (66), J. Burnard-Leppinus (72), N. Olson (90))  HT 1-0 Victoria University 0, Palmerston North United 1 (A. Irwin (32))  HT 0-1 Waterside Karori 4 (N. Ross (17), R. Bacon (29), S. Concessio (43), T. Cooper (48)), Taradale 0  HT 3-0

The Dunedin teams are the ones to catch in the South Island Women's League after both recorded victories in Christchurch on the first weekend in May to top the table with identical records after five rounds of action. Dunedin City Royals enjoy the view from the summit because D precedes O in the alphabet! Goals in each half from Hannah Mackay-Wright and Shelby Jones secured a 2-0 victory for "The Royals" over Canterbury Universities at English Park. Across town in a game transferred to the Christchurch United Sports Centre, Coastal Spirit came a cropper in a big way at the hands of Otago University, who thrashed the most successful club in South Island women's football 4-0 to move three points clear of reigning champions Cashmere Technical, who endured the bye this weekend. The game was up for Spirit inside the opening half-hour, during which time Ruby Braithwaite, Leila Hausia-Haugen and Georgia Nixon put the students on easy street. The last-mentioned added her second with her last touch of the game eighteen minutes from time to make a clear statement to all the title contenders - Otago University have their eyes on the prize in 2025. Nomads-Waimakariri United climbed into fifth place on the back of a dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 win at Saxton Fields, a result which continues to leave Nelson Suburbs propping up the table without a point to their name. Jemma Creed's second minute goal for United had the Nelsonians enduring that familiar but unwelcome feeling again, and when captain Sam Crawford departed the fray on the half-hour, they must have feared the worst. But they fought back well, with Sola Tsuruta levelling matters on the stroke of half-time before Abigail Platt put the home team in front with twelve minutes to go. Creed quickly restored parity, before United substitute Jade Lewington broke Nelson hearts with a stoppage time winner. Roslyn Wakari picked up their first win of the campaign, humbling Halswell United 6-3 at Logan Park, where Amelie East-Giles' hat-trick inspired "The Ponies" to victory. Isla Smith, Zara Pratley and Morgan McCormick also chimed in for the victors, with Amelia Newlands, Sophie Withell and Emma Batey, in stoppage time, giving "The Hawks" something positive to talk about on the road trip home. Attention turns to the Kate Sheppard Cup on Saturday, with the form teams all expected to advance after enjoying favourable draws. Spirit take on Selwyn United at Tane Norton Park, while Cashmere meet Canterbury Universities at English Park. "The Hawks" welcome Ferrymead Bays to Halswell Domain, while Richmond Athletic entertain Nelson at Jubilee Park. Otago University and Roslyn Wakari drew the byes in this round, with "The Royals" heading to Sunnyvale Park to take on Green Island on a day Northern and Queens park get it on at the Caledonian Ground. Details: Canterbury Universities 0, Dunedin City Royals 2 (H. Mackay-Wright (31), S. Jones (74))  HT 0-1 Coastal Spirit 0, Otago University 4 (R. Braithwaite (7), L. Hausia-Haugen (22), G. Nixon (30, 72))  HT 0-3 Nelson Suburbs 2 (S. Tsuruta (45), A. Platt (78)), Nomads-Waimakariri United 3 (J. Creed (2, 80), J. Lewington (90))  HT 1-1 Roslyn Wakari 6 (A. East-Giles (7, 34, 79), I. Smith (24), Z. Pratley (45), M. MacCormick (58)), Halswell United 3 (A. Newlands (42), S. Withell (68), E. Batey (90))  HT 4-1