Wellington United moved to within five points of another Central Region Premier Women's League title on the last weekend in July after trouncing second-placed Wellington Phoenix in style at Fraser Park. "The Diamonds" prevailed 3-0 to extend their advantage to eight points with four rounds remaining, second half goals from Zoe Barrott, Natalie Olson - on the occasion of her 150th appearance for the club - and Summer Laskey securing the points for the league leaders, whose only blemish this season was a Kate Sheppard Cup defeat to the Phoenix reserves team. In an otherwise low-scoring round, the race for a top-three finish intensified after Petone and Waterside Karori drew 1-1 at Petone Memorial Park, where Pepi Olliver-Bell and "The Magpiees"' Renee Bacon exchanged second half goals. That result allowed Marist Palmerston North to close the gap on both teams, but they needed a late Isabella Yarwood winner to see off Victoria University 1-0 at Arena Manawatu on a day Taradale's top three hopes took a near-mortal blow, Moturoa downing the travelling team 1-0 at Onuku Taipari Domain. Anna Hinton clinched the points for Taranaki's finest on a weekend which saw plenty of movement in the bottom four. Miramar Rangers also climbed the table after Ella Wilson's third minute goal proved suffice to see off Palmerston North United, who have dropped to ninth place in a ding-dong relegation battle. "The Diamonds" can edge closer to the title when taking on Petone at Newtown Park on Friday night, while on Saturday, PNU and the students square off at Memorial Park. Sunday's fare sees Miramar and Moturoa meeting at Dave Farrington Park, while the Phoenix entertain Marist at Fraser Park on a day Taradale tackles "The Magpies" at Taradale Park. Details: Marist Palmerston North 1 (I. Yarwood (88)), Victoria University 0  HT 0-0 Miramar Rangers 1 (E. Wilson (3)), Palmerston North United 0  HT 1-0 Moturoa 1 (A. Hinton (20)), Taradale 0  HT 1-0 Petone 1 (P. Olliver-Bell (53)), Waterside Karori 1 (R. Bacon (85))  HT 0-0 Wellington Phoenix 0, Wellington United 3 (Z. Barrott (64), N. Olson (83), S. Laskey (90))  HT 0-0

As in the capital, so, too, in "the Edinburgh of the South", where Dunedin City Royals are just five points shy of securing the South Island Women's League title after Raegan Potter's eleventh minute goal proved suffice to see off Coastal Spirit 1-0 at Tane Norton Park. The win leaves "The Royals" eight points clear of Otago University, with reigning champions Cashmere Technical a further four points adrift, despite Fred Simpson's charges routing Roslyn Wakari 9-0 at Ellis Park. Katie Brugh led the way with a hat-trick for the victors, while Annalie Longo and Petra Buyck both struck twice on a day Anya Stephan and Jemma Wilson also had reason to celebrate scoring. Canterbury Universities strengthened their grip on fifth spot after Erin Roxburgh's goal at Nelson Suburbs settled matters in the visitors' favour at Saxton Fields. That 1-0 win capped off a great week for the students, who stormed into the Morrison Mitsubishi Reta Fitzpatrick Cup Final during the week, trouncing Nomads-Waimakariri United 6-0 at English Park, a rout which featured a Liv Deane hat-trick. NWU bounced back from that drubbing in style, hammering Halswell United 7-0, thanks in large part to a devastating spell of five goals in ten minutes around the half-hour mark. Jasmine Barrett and A. Taylor bagged braces, while Becky Hewitt and E. Jones also chimed in, with an "oggie" thrown in for good measure. The match of the round this week sees Otago and Spirit clashing at Logan Park on Saturday. "The Hawks" and "The Ponies" meet at Halswell Domain on the same day, while on Sunday, NWU and Nelson meet at Kendall Park on a day the league leaders take on Canterbury at Tahuna Park. Details: Coastal Spirit 0, Dunedin City Royals 1 (R. Potter (11))  HT 0-1 Nelson Suburbs 0, Canterbury Universities 1 (E. Roxburgh) Nomads-Waimakariri United 7 (A. Taylor (23, 43), J. Barrett (24, 60), R. Hewitt (26), "oggiee' (30), E. Jones (33)), Halswell United 0  HT 6-0 Roslyn Wakari 0, Cashmere Technical 9 (K. Brugh (5, 14, 65), A. Longo (9, 27), A. Stephan (42), P. Buyck (55, 63), J. Wilson (90))  HT 0-5