Dunedin City Royals have skipped five points clear in the South Island Women's League after cross-town rivals Otago University stumbled to a 2-2 draw at home to bottom-placed Halswell United on the last weekend in June. While goals in each half from Raegan Potter and Hannah Mackay-Wright - a penalty - earned "The Royals" a 2-0 win over Nomads-Waimakariri United at Logan Park on what was a dreich weekend "doon sooth", the students had to twice come from behind at the same venue twenty-four hours later to earn a point against the plucky "Hawks". Ella Hartel gave United an early advantage which they held until half-time, but Georgia Nixon swiftly cancelled that out soon after the second half had begun. Amelia Wilson had "The Hawks" back in front by the hour mark, however, and it required a penalty from Nixon - now the league's leading markswoman with ten goals - to earn the locals a share of the spoils twenty minutes from time. Whatever was in Cashmere Technical's half-time tea needs to be bottled and preserved, as after a scoreless first half at Garrick Memorial Park, they came out all guns blazing, thumping Nelson Suburbs 5-1. Sara Mann led the way with two, while Katie Harris, Anika Lomax and Darsha Keogan also chimed in, all this after Anise Bazley had opened the scoring for the visitors four minutes after the resumption of play. Across town at English Park, second half goals from Liv Deane, Erin Roxburgh and Olivia Herman earned Canterbury Universities a 3-0 win over Roslyn Wakari to lift the students into fifth place on the table. During the week, there was quite an upset in the Morrison Mitsubishi Reta Fitzpatrick Cup quarter-finals, with ten-time winners Coastal Spirit ousted on penalties by Nomad-Waimakariri United. They prevailed 5-4 on spot-kicks, after the teams had scored a goal apiece in the second half, and join Canterbury Universities, Cashmere Technical and Selwyn United in the semi-finals, the draw for which has not yet been made. Next Sunday sees attention squarely focused on the Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup quarter-final twixt Cashmere and Otago at Garrick Memorial Park. At this stage, it's the only game taking place in the South Island, although it's possible that Halswell will be in action, given they've got games at home to "The Royals" and away at Nelson to rearrange. Nothing had been confirmed re either fixture at press time. Details: Canterbury Universities 3 (L. Deane (50), E. Roxburgh (69), O. Herman (90)), Roslyn Wakari 0  HT 0-0 Cashmere Technical 5 (K. Harris (55), S. Mann (60, 69), A. Lomax (80), D. Keogan (90)), Nelson Suburbs 1 (A. Bazley (49))  HT 0-0 Dunedin City Royals 2 (R. Potter (20), H. Mackay-Wright (51 pen)), Nomads-Waimakariri United 0  HT 1-0 Otago University 2 (G. Nixon (49, 71 pen)), Halswell United 2 (E. Hartel (7), A. Wilson (59))  HT 0-1

Played eleven, won eleven - that's the tale of the tape for Wellington United, who are making no race of the Central Region Premier Women's League this season, with Wellington Phoenix their nearest challengers some five points abaft them. "The Diamonds"' latest victims were Palmerston North United, who succumbed 8-0 at Memorial Park, putting through their net twice to aid the visitors' cause. Natalie Olson added another match ball to her collection - her "hatty" included a penalty, while Hannah Pilley also potted one from twelve yards on a day Farina Anchico and captain Zoe Barrott also got in on the act. Wellington Phoenix were 4-0 winners at Taradale, with Mackenzie Bryant, Katie Pugh, Isabella Temple and Eliza Vincent all chiming in at Taradale Park to match the scoreline recorded by Petone twenty-four hours earlier. Moturoa succumbed to the locals at Petone Memorial Park, with Phoebe Gray and substitute Emmy Lantz sandwiching a brace of Pepi Olliver-Bell goals on a day four goals were also in evidence at Alex Moore Park. That's where Waterside Karori's clash with Marist Palmerston North was transferred to, and saw a 2-2 draw result, each side boasting two-goal heroines. Melissa McKenna was the star turn for the visitors, but "Magpies" captain Renee Bacon rather blotted her copybook for the home team. Having blown out birthday candles twenty-four hours previously, she received a couple of birthday cards she wasn't expecting at the end of this match, and the red-coloured one certainly wasn't appreciated - it means she's out of Saturday's Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup quarter-final, with "The Magpies" taking on Wellington Phoenix's reserves at Karori Park from noon. Also that day, the rescheduled opening round fixture twixt Taradale and Marist is taking place at Taradale Park. Details: Palmerston North United 0, Wellington United 8 (N. Olson (12, 38 pen), H. Pilley (28 pen), F. Anchico (45), "oggies" (52, 70, 80), Z. Barrott (57))  HT 0-4 Petone 4 (P. Gray (36), P. Olliver-Bell (45, 67), E. Lantz (77)), Moturoa 0  HT 2-0 Taradale 0, Wellington Phoenix 4 (M. Bryant (2), K. Pugh (32), I. Temple (55), E. Vincent (64))  HT 0-2 Waterside Karori 2 (R. Bacon (15, 27)), Marist Palmerston North 2 (M. McKenna (16, 52))  HT 2-1