At half-time at Arena Manawatu on Saturday, Marist Palmerston North were threatening an upset against runaway Central Region Premier Women's League leaders Wellington United, who were being held to a scoreless draw by their hosts. Adding to the equation was the prospect of the league trophy being presented after the full-time whistle, as victory would put "The Diamonds" in an unassailable position and give them a seventh league title in ten seasons. Cue Natalie Olson. The "Queen of Diamonds" is the league's leading scorer in 2025, with 26 goals to her credit heading into this match. Come the full-time whistle, that tally had been increased to 32 goals - yes, she scored a double hat-trick in the second spell to inspire a 9-0 win for the newly crowned champions. Jemma Catherwood, with two goals, and Jemma Robertson added the extras, but Olson was very much the star of the show on this occasion. With two league games still to play, plus at least nine in the National Women's League, and having scored a hat-trick in the Kate Sheppard Cup earlier this season, the chance to achieve the rare feat of scoring fifty goals in a calendar year is very much alive for the 23-year-old goalgetter. Second-placed Wellington Phoenix stormed to a two-goal lead inside the first twenty minutes at Onuku Taipari Domain en route to overcoming Moturoa 3-1. Kya Solomon and Bridie Christie were responsible for the strong start, and while Anna Hinton halved the deficit before the interval, Anais Lecarpentier restored the visitors' two-goal advantage seventeen minutes from time. The race for third place, and the other Central Region position in the National Women's League, is very much alive and well with two rounds remaining. Waterside Karori are in pole position after mauling Miramar Rangers 6-2 at Karori Park, where Renee Bacon and Nicola Ross both struck twice in the first half to assert "The Magpies"' superiority. Taylor Cooper also bagged a brace in the second spell for the victors, while Iris Reweti-Gould replied in kind for the vanquished on a day fourth-placed Petone also saw two players scoring a brace of goals as they overpowered Palmerston North United 4-0. Pepi Olliver-Bell and former Dunedin City Royals star Chelsea Whittaker - her first goals in many months - led the goal celebrations at Petone Memorial Park, a result which sets up a massive game next Saturday, about which, more shortly. The upset of the round occurred at Boyd Wilson Park, where bottom-placed Victoria University scored just their second win of the campaign to revive their hopes of avoiding relegation. They overcame Taradale 3-2, led by Georgia Gardner's second half brace of goals, after the evergreen Nicole Baird scored the only goal of the first half. "Dale" got back on level terms just after the hour mark through a Tessa Barry "oggie" and a Johanna Nieuwenhuis strike, but Gardner's second goal eight minutes from time proved decisive, and gives the students a chance of pulling off the great escape. Their next chance to do so comes at Boyd Wilson Park on Saturday, where Miramar provide the opposition. Across town at Newtown Park, "The Diamonds" welcome Moturoa to the capital, while the game of the round sees "The Magpies" and Petone squaring off in a massive game at Karori Park, where the visitors can't afford to drop points. Sunday's fare sees Wellington Phoenix and Marist meeting at Fraser Park, prior to the semi-final of the Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup, with the Phoenix reserves taking on Cashmere Technical for a place in the final on the first weekend in September. Details: Marist Palmerston North 0, Wellington United 9 (N. Olson (52, 75, 77, 82, 85, 90), J. Catherwood (56, 62), J. Robertson (67))  HT 0-0 Moturoa 1 (A. Hinton (39)), Wellington Phoenix 3 (K. Solomon (15), B. Christie (18), A. Lecarpentier (73))  HT 1-2 Petone 4 (P. Olliver-Bell (16, 70), C. Whittaker (62, 77)), Palmerston North United 0  HT 1-0 Victoria University 3 (N. Baird (27), G. Gardner (47, 82)), Taradale 2 ("oggie" (62), J. Nieuwenhuis (65))  HT 1-0 Waterside Karori 6 (R. Bacon (24, 42), N. Ross (28, 45), T. Cooper (49, 82)), Miramar Rangers 2 (I. Reweti-Gould (51, 66))  HT 4-0

Kelsey Kennard had more reason than most to celebrate Dunedin City Royals' latest title triumph on Saturday. The defender has been a club stalwart for well over a decade, so it was fitting that her 250th appearance for "The Royals" should see them crowned champions of the South Island Women's League. Alas, she didn't score in her team's 3-1 win over Nelson Suburbs at Saxton Fields, but the efforts of Toni Power, Hannah Mackay-Wright - from the penalty spot - and the league's leading markswoman, Amy Hislop, ensured Samantha Crawford's early goal for the home team wouldn't spoil "The Royals" perfect record - they're now fourteen from fourteen - nor spoil their latest celebrations of success. "The Royals" weren't the only team to get their hands on some silverware this weekend. Cashmere Technical relieved Coastal Spirit of the Hawkey Memorial Shield, overpowering their cross-town rivals 4-1 at Tane Norton Park. A first half hat-trick from Jemma Wilson was the difference between the teams, Katie Harris adding the extras for Fred Simpson's side late on, Britney-Lee Nicholson having levelled the scores five minutes before half-time. Across town at English Park, the battle of the students saw Otago prevail 2-0 over Canterbury, Ashley Geusebroek and Jemma McCormick scoring in each half to leave the victors a win away from confirming a second-placed finish. The only game in Dunedin this weekend saw Roslyn Wakari and Nomads-Waimakariri United sharing the spoils at Logan Park. "Ponies" captain Amelie East-Giles opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute, but Jade Lewington brought about the final 1-1 scoreline on the stroke of half-time. Roslyn Wakari and Coastal Spirit meet at Logan Park on Saturday, the only game scheduled in the league. Cashmere, meanwhile, will be bidding to reach the Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup Final, and take on Wellington Phoenix at the latter's Fraser Park home on Sunday. Details: Canterbury Universities 0, Otago Universities 2 (A. Geusebroek, J. McCormick)  HT 0-1 Coastal Spirit 1 (B. Nicholson (40)), Cashmere Technical 4 (J. Wilson (3, 43, 44), K. Harris (82))  HT 1-3 Nelson Suburbs 1 (S. Crawford (10)), Dunedin City Royals 3 (T. Power (2), H. Mackay-Wright (68 pen), A. Hislop (82))  HT 1-1 Roslyn Wakari 1 (A. East-Giles (13)), Nomads-Waimakariri United 1 (J. Lewington (45))  HT 1-1