Dunedin City Royals edged Otago University 1-0 in their top-of-the-table South Island Women's League showdown at Tahuna Park, where Amy Hislop's eighteenth minute goal settled matters between these cross-town rivals, who went into this contest boasting perfect six-from-six records. Victory leaves "The Royals" in a commanding position where National Women's League qualification is concerned, with third-placed Coastal Spirit six points off the pacesetters after they routed Halswell United 7-1 at Tane Norton Park. The Hawkey Shield holders only led by a Margi Dias goal at half-time, but three goals in five minutes from Britney-Lee Nicholson, Frankie Morrow and Holly Lyon made the game safe before the hour mark. "Queen B" went on to complete yet another hat-trick for Spirit, for whom Kate Berry wrapped up the scoring after Emma Hartel had netted a consolation goal for "The Hawks", who now occupy last place on the table following this defeat. That's because Nelson Suburbs scored their first win of the campaign, coming from behind to down Roslyn Wakari 2-1 at Saxton Fields, where Zara Pratley put "The Ponies" in front on the quarter hour. Gillian Morgan and Giselle Rynvos turned things around for the home team just after the half-hour mark, scoring in a three-minute spell to secure the points for Suburbs, a result which gives their season a much-needed boost. Talking of which, reigning champions Cashmere Technical climbed back into the top four with a 2-0 win over Canterbury Universities at English Park, thanks to goals from Katie Harris and Ruby Luxton inside the final five minutes of the first half. League action takes a back seat this weekend, with Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup ties dominating the conversation the length and breadth of the landscape across King's Birthday weekend. In the South Island, Nelson and Halswell meet at Saxton Fields in the lone Sunday tie, while on Saturday, Cashmere and Spirit meet at Garrick Memorial Park in what some would regard as a season-defining fixture for both Christchurch contenders. In Dunedin, "The Royals" take on Roslyn Wakari at Tahuna Park, while at Logan Park, the students should hold far too many guns for Northern, who prop up the Football South Premier Women's League table having already copped a hiding from Otago's "ressies" this season. Do not be at all surprised if this tie sees a double-figure scoreline being recorded by the home team. Details: Canterbury Universities 0, Cashmere Technical 2 (K. Harris (41), R. Luxton (45))  HT 0-2 Coastal Spirit 7 (M. Dias (6), B. Nicholson (52, 64, 74), F. Morrow (53), H. Lyon (56), K. Berry (83)), Halswell United 1 (E. Hartel (81))  HT 1-0 Dunedin City Royals 1 (A. Hislop (18)), Otago University 0  HT 1-0 Nelson Suburbs 2 (G. Morgan (32), G. Rynvos (35)), Roslyn Wakari 1 (Z. Pratley (15))  HT 2-1

Wellington United continued on their winning ways in the Central Region Premier Women's League, mauling Moturoa 7-0 at Onuku Taipari Domain, where the "Queen of Diamonds", Natalie Olson, opened the scoring from the penalty spot - her 100th goal for the club - before going on to complete a hat-trick. Sophie Parker struck either side of the half-time whistle for the league leaders, her goals sandwiching efforts from Zoe Barrott - on her 100th appearance for United - and Hannah Pilley as "The Diamonds" continue to make every post a winning one in their pursuit of a second successive title triumph, and a seventh in a decade. Their closest pursuants, Wellington Phoenix, were made to work hard for their 1-0 win at Dave Farrington Park by a Miramar Rangers side which ultimately couldn't overcome a Katie Pugh goal scored eleven minutes before half-time. Waterside Karori maintained third place on the table thanks to a 5-0 rout of Victoria University, which featured a brace of goals to both Renee Bacon and Nicola Ross after Sophie Bradley had opened the scoring at Karori Park, where four of the goals were scored before the interval. Petone also enjoyed a comfortable win on home turf, trouncing Taradale 4-0 at Petone Memorial Park thanks to a brace of goals apiece from Pepi Olliver-Bell and Jessica Owens-Blackmore. Bragging rights in Palmerston North were on the line at Memorial Park this weekend, and for the foreseeable future, "Palmy" is green, a result of Marist's 2-1 win over United. A quickfire double from Charlotte Noakes and Kate MacPherson just after the half-hour mark left their crosstown rivals with too much to do, despite Annabel Irwin reducing the deficit on the hour. Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup ties in the Central Region largely take place on Sunday, the exception being Marist's clash with Wellington Phoenix's reserves - not the CRPWL team - at Arena Manawatu on Saturday. Sunday's fare sees "The Diamonds" heading to Mazengarb Park, the home of Te Kotahitanga, while Miramar Rangers and Victoria University meet in an all-Premier League tie. The other fixture sees Upper Hutt City welcoming "The Magpies" to Maidstone Park. A solitary league game is also taking place on Saturday, with Wellington Phoenix's U-18s taking on Moturoa at Fraser Park in a rearranged seventh round fixture, which the home team will be expecting to win comfortably as they look to hunt down the league leaders. Details: Miramar Rangers 0, Wellington Phoenix 1 (K. Pugh (34))  HT 0-1 Moturoa 0, Wellington United 7 (N. Olson (5 pen, 67, 87), S. Parker (31, 54), Z. Barrott (40), H. Pilley (46))  HT 0-3 Palmerston North United 1 (A. Irwin (59)), Marist Palmerston North 2 (C. Noakes (32), K. MacPherson (38))  HT 0-2 Petone 4 (P. Olliver-Bell (11, 69), J. Owens-Blackmore (19, 34)), Taradale 0  HT 3-0 Waterside Karori 5 (S. Bradley (9), R. Bacon (12, 29), N. Ross (41, 53)), Victoria University 0  HT 4-0