"The Diamonds" and "The Magpies" look set to battle out the Central Region Premier Women's League title yet again after both scored wins over top-four rivals on Saturday to give themselves a mini-break on the field as the halfway mark approaches. Wellington United retained the lead in emphatic fashion, mauling Marist Palmerston North 7-1 at Newtown Park, five of their haul being scored before the interval, including another brace for Hope Gilchrist. Jasmine Burnard-Leppinus and Nea Blackham also struck before the break, as did Charlotte Noakes, who put through her own net on the half-hour. Zoe Barrott joined in the fun soon after half-time before Ruby-Aroha Gurnick reduced the arrears, only for Natalie Brook to restore United's six-goal advantage in the shadows of the full-time whistle. Reigning champions Waterside Karori remain hard on their heels after edging Petone 1-0 in the game of the round at Petone Memorial Park, where substitute Kendall Pollock struck the winner seven minutes from time to inflict a first league defeat of the season upon their hosts. In the competition's "distance derby", home advantage proved crucial for Moturoa as they returned to winning ways at Taradale's expense, 3-0 the scoreline at Onuku Taipari Domain, where Sasha Rasmussen bagged a brace to move to the top of the Golden Boot charts with five goals. Kathryn Greaney made the game safe for "Motu" before the hour mark. "The Magpies" and Moturoa meet in the match of the round at Karori Park on Saturday, a day on which Marist welcome Seatoun to Arena Manawatu. "The Diamonds" travel to Taradale Park on Sunday, while the clash of Victoria University and Petone has been rescheduled to mid-August. Details: Moturoa 3 (S. Rasmussen (22, 52), K. Greaney (58)), Taradale 0  HT 1-0 Petone 0, Waterside Karori 1 (K. Pollock (83))  HT 0-0 Wellington United 7 (H. Gilchrist (4, 25), J. Burnard-Leppinus (17), "oggie"(30), N. Blackham (36), Z. Barrott (49), N. Brook (88)), Marist Palmerston North 1 (R. Gurnick (51))  HT 5-0 The opening matches in the South Island Women's League saw the respective champions of the Mainland and Football South Premier Women's Leagues commence their campaigns on a winning note.

Dunedin City Royals got the ball rolling on Saturday, goals in each half from Shontelle Smith and Rose Morton eclipsing Coastal Spirit 2-0 at Logan Park, their ninth win from as many matches this season. They've yet to concede a goal in those games as well. Twenty-four hours later, at the same venue, Cashmere Technical went one better goals-wise, seeing off Otago University 3-0 to score their tenth win from as many matches in 2024. Late goals from Margi Dias and substitute Rosie Hayman sealed the points for the travelling team, Anna McPhie having put them ahead after nineteen minutes. The other opening round fixture, between Roslyn Wakari and Nelson Suburbs, will take place on July 6, to allow the visitors time to raise the airfares to Dunedin, the southerners having only qualified for the league a week ago. Second round action on Saturday sees a Dunedin derby between "The Royals" and the students at Tahuna Park, while Nelson welcome Spirit to Saxton Fields on a day Cashmere entertains Roslyn Wakari at Garrick Memorial Park. All three matches commence at 12.30pm. Details: Dunedin City Royals 2 (S. Smith (30), R. Morton (58)), Coastal Spirit 0  HT 1-0 Otago University 0, Cashmere Technical 3 (A. McPhie (19), M. Dias (83), R. Hayman (89))  HT 0-1 Roslyn Wakari v Nelson Suburbs, postponed to July 6. Around the regions, Palmerston North United are racing away with the Lotto Central Federation Premier Women's League, so much so that two wins from their last four games should be enough to secure the silverware. Perennial Inter Football Capital Premier Women's League title contenders Wellington United are on course to record a hat-trick of championships halfway through the campaign, as they boast a nine-point advantage over a quartet of teams who are taking points off each other, but not off "The Sapphires" when the time comes to lock horns with the league leaders. Otago University already enjoy a solid six-point lead after three rounds of the Football South Women's Championship, while in the Morrison Mitsubishi Reta Fitzpatrick Cup, Halswell United and Selwyn United have qualified for the semi-finals so far, with the other contenders - very likely Cashmere Technical and Coastal Spirit - to play their quarter-finals in July.