None of the other first round winners in the Ford National Women's League took full advantage of the absence of Auckland United and Eastern Suburbs from second round action in the competition on the first weekend in November. United are in China for their FIFA Women's Champions Cup clash with Wuhan Jiangdu on Wednesday evening, a match for which they warmed up - literally, in mid-thirties temperatures - with a 2-0 loss to Chinese Women's Super League side Shanghai Shengli, who scored both goals early doors before Auckland acclimatised to the sultry conditions. Their eagerly awaited clash with Suburbs has been rescheduled to October 29, meaning the way was clear for Petone, Southern United and Western Springs to each go two from two in the NWL, but none of them exploited the absence of their free-scoring rivals. "The Hoops" were closest to doing so in a remarkable encounter in awful weather at English Park, where Canterbury United Pride stormed into a three-goal lead before Springs replied with three goals in the last seven minutes of the half to earn a 3-3 draw. Margi Dias afforded the locals the ideal start, lobbing Amberley Hollis from the edge of the penalty area in the eighth minute. Ten minutes later, Jaedici Uluvili was caught in possession just outside the eighteen yard box, and Petra Buyck took full advantage to double Canterbury's lead. She made it 3-0 after working a one-two with Frankie Morrow on the half-hour, as Canterbury looked to bounce back from last week's record defeat at the hands of reigning champions Auckland. Katie Duncan's charges had other ideas, however, and conjured up three goals of their own to ensure the teams went to the dressing rooms on level terms. Nanami Omasa curled home a gem to reduce the arrears in the 38th minute, before Britney Cunningham-Lee rampaged through the heart of Canterbury's rearguard before rounding Amy Simmers - 3-2 five minutes later. And with virtually the last touch of the ball in the first half, captain Sarah Morton restored parity, pouncing from close range after the locals had failed to clear a corner, thus setting up a second half which, remarkably, failed to produce any more goals, though it wasn't for the want of trying. The closest either side came to scoring saw Rina Hirano hit the crossbar twice with the same shot when meeting Anna McPhie's 53rd minute corner with a deft volley. Canterbury survived this scare, and were happy with a share of the spoils in the end against opponents whose two games so far have produced a remarkable fifteen goals! Ahead of Springs on goal difference are Southern, who shared the spoils with Wellington United at Newtown Park thanks to some outstanding goalkeeping from Lauren Paterson, who earned the visitors a point from this 1-1 draw. Georgia Keen fired Southern in front from an acute angle following an eighth minute corner, and they repelled everything "The Diamonds" could muster before half-time, the offside flag denying Natalie Olson the equaliser during the first spell. After the interval, Hannah Pilley was brilliantly thwarted by Paterson, who followed that up by letting in a comparatively soft equaliser, Summer Laskey's 51st minute acute-angled cross-shot deceiving the 'keeper at her near post. Cue a siege from the locals, but Paterson more than made up for her misjudgement with a string of outstanding saves, Olson in particular left wondering what she had to do to score on more than one occasion as the 'keeper earned Southern a precious point. Petone didn't manage that, falling 2-0 to Wellington Phoenix at Fraser Park, where Kya Solomon's splendid solo strike seven minutes before the break separated the sides at the interval. That said, she should have doubled their advantage in stoppage time, heading over an open goal from four yards after being picked out by Maisy McDonald's cross. It was left to Isabella Temple to double Wellington's advantage, a two-yard tap-in

halfway through the second spell after Sienna Candy crowned her personal performance with an assist of high quality. At Fred Taylor Park, West Coast Rangers overcame a dogged and determined Central Football combination 4-0 - a marked improvement on their opening round effort, which saw them ship nine at Eastern Suburbs' hands. Central have got a rotten draw - their first four games see them taking on the teams from the league widely regarded as the best in the country, with the Lotto Northern Premier Women's League affording its top four place-getters the perfect platform upon which to prepare for the National Women's League. Rangers, this season's NPWL champions, were only denied an opening goal in the fourth minute by Alex Gray's fabulous save to deny Marissa Porteous' eight yard header, which the 'keeper tipped onto the bar. It took the home team a further half-hour before they finally found a way through Central's defiant defending, Kailey Short's cross being headed against the crossbar by Leyla Butler, only for Sienna Higinbotham, following in, to head home the rebound. Seven minutes later, Laney Strachan headed home an Anjelina Ujdur free-kick to double Rangers' lead, which Porteous' attempt to further bolster was foiled by Gray on the stroke of half-time. Unselfish play by Shannon Henson - she could easily have scored herself - afforded Short a 54th minute strike she finished in unerring fashion, while after Gray had foiled said scorer's bid to bag a double ten minutes later, another Ujdur corner proved Central's undoing, Higinbotham again the markswoman from close range. Mila Morles should have made it a nap hand for Rangers in stoppage time, but they were content with their first win of the campaign, having suffered a shock loss to Petone a week ago, when they were without the services of Porteous - her presence is integral to their progress. Next weekend's action kicks off with a solitary Saturday engagement, and one hopes the weather at English Park will be much better for the visit of Wellington Phoenix to Canterbury. Four games take place on Sunday, including two in Auckland an hour apart. Surely Auckland's clash with Central at Keith Hay Park, and Springs' duel with Petone at Seddon Fields, could have been scheduled a bit better than 1pm and 2pm respectively? Rangers make the long trip south to take on Southern at Logan Park, while in the capital, "The Diamonds" and "The Lilywhites" do battle at Newtown Park, where one suspects an away win may well scupper Wellington's hopes of adding the NWL title to their Central Region Premier Women's League crown. In the latest round of National Women's League action, Fencibles United recorded a statement victory, captain Charlize Kerr scoring the only goal of the game in their win at two-time champions Canterbury United Pride to afford the visitors the outright lead atop the table. Zoe Brazier and Mia Humphrey both scored twice as they respectively led Eastern Suburbs and Melville United to victory. "The Lilywhites" downed Tauranga Moana 4-2, while "The Unicorns" saw off Central Football 3-0. Southern United won by the odd goal in five at Capital Football, who have failed to win any of their three matches so far, United captain Morgan MacCormick's match-winner condemning Capital's team to their latest defeat in a round which saw reigning champions Wellington Phoenix enduring the bye in the nine-team competition. Details: Canterbury United Pride 3 (M. Dias (8), P. Buyck (18, 31)), Western Springs 3 (N. Omasa (38), B. Cunningham-Lee (43), S. Morton (45))  HT 3-3 Wellington Phoenix 2 (K. Solomon (38), I. Temple (69)), Petone 0  HT 1-0 Wellington United 1 (S. Laskey (51)), Southern United 1 (G. Keen (8))  HT 0-1 West Coast Rangers 4 (S. Higinbotham (34, 67), L. Strachan (41), K. Short (54)), Central Football 0  HT 2-0