The cream has swiftly risen towards the top in the South Island Women's League, with the leading teams from Dunedin and Christchurch occupying the top four places on the league ladder following the first three rounds of action. Dunedin City Royals lead the way on goal difference from cross-town rivals Otago University after handing fellow Dunedinites Roslyn Wakari an 8-2 hiding at Logan Park, Amy Hislop inspiring the win with a hat-trick in a match which saw the victors strike six times in the second half. Kylie Jones chipped in with a second half brace to join her team-mate atop the Golden Boot chart with five goals, while Rose Morton, Hannah Mackay-Wright and substitute Keira Pettefar wrapped up the points for "The Royals" on a day Zara Pratley's goal halfway through the first half briefly had "The Ponies" on level terms. Half-time substitute Morgan MacCormick's late strike was of consolation value only to the beaten side. On the adjoining pitch at Logan Park, the students had a battle on their hands before overcoming Nomads-Waimakariri United 3-1, with the visitors scoring the first two goals in the match, Rebecca Gillett levelling the scores on the quarter hour after Hollie Carlisle-Reeve had put through her own net in the eighth minute. Goals either side of the half-time whistle from Leila Hausia-Haugen and Georgia Nixon secured the points for Otago on a day Coastal Spirit eased past Nelson Suburbs 2-0 at Tane Norton Park thanks to goals from Lauren Annan and Ashlyn Gillespie-Nye, who struck three minutes shy of half-time to break Nelson's stubborn resistance. Reigning champions Cashmere Technical kicked off the round by overpowering Halswell United 6-0 at Garrick Memorial Park, where Saskia Pelham, in the first half, and Petra Buyck, after half-time, both struck twice to set up the win. Kaia Smith and substitute Savannah Olsen added the extras, leaving "The Hawks" rooted to the bottom of the table, having conceded nineteen goals in their three games to date, and with the prospect of a tough season on the cards for this young side. A full round of action is scheduled for Good Friday, with Otago having the chance to skip clear at the top when they face Roslyn Wakari at Logan Park. Dunedin has the bye in this round, which will allow Cashmere - who take on NWU at Kendall Park - and Spirit, who entertain Canterbury Universities at Tane Norton Park, to join them on nine points. Nelson welcome Halswell to Saxton Fields in a clash twixt the bottom two. Details: Cashmere Technical 6 (S. Pelham (16, 45), K. Smith (30), P. Buyck (58, 69), S. Olsen (90)), Halswell United 0  HT 3-0 Coastal Spirit 2 (A. Gillespie-Nye (42), L. Annan (54)), Nelson Suburbs 0  HT 1-0 Dunedin City Royals 8 (H. Mackay-Wright (20), A. Hislop (26, 70, 76), R. Morton (56), K. Jones (60, 78), K. Pettefar (90)), Roslyn Wakari 2 (Z. Pratley (23), M. MacCormick (83))  HT 2-1 Otago University 3 ("oggie" (8), L. Hausia-Haugen (41), G. Nixon (52)), Nomads-Waimakariri United 1 (R. Gillett (16))  HT 2-1

The two teams from the capital continued to find the back of the net with gay abandon in third round action in the Central Region Premier Women's League, Wellington Phoenix leading the way as they thumped Taradale 7-1 at Fraser Park. The table-toppers spread the goals around, with Katie Pugh and Isabella Temple establishing a lead halfway through the first half. Kya Solomon restored their two-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time after Maddy Hughes had halved the deficit 'Dale was facing, but a brace of Grace Bartlett goals, supplemented by strikes from Holly Robins and captain Mackenzie Bryant, ensured Wellington Phoenix's stay at the summit would be extended by another week. Across town at Newtown Park, Carolyn O'Reilly led the way with a double-strike as Wellington United eclipsed Palmerston North United 6-0, with Amelie Deane, Taylor Watson, Hannah Pilley and Lara Smith also getting in on the act. In a round which saw Miramar Rangers and Victoria University battle out a scoreless draw at Dave Farrington Park, Petone edged past Moturoa 2-0 at Onuku Taipari Domain thanks to second half goals from Phoebe Gray and substitute Kyra Elder, who clinched the points for the travelling team in the ninth minute of stoppage time. Waterside Karori finally got their season back on track by dishing out a 4-1 hiding to Marist Palmerston North at Arena Manawatu, where "The Magpies" were afforded a great start by Melissa McKenna's fourth minute "oggie". Nicola Ross struck either side of the half-time whistle for the victors, for whom Rhianna Houghton netted a third goal seven minutes before half-time. Isabella Yarwood's goal five minutes from time gave Marist something to celebrate on the day. Just four games are scheduled this weekend, the lone Good Friday fixture seeing "The Diamonds" making the trip north to Taradale Park. Saturday's fare sees Petone drawing swords with Miramar at Petone Memorial Park, while at Karori Park, "The Magpies" take on bottom-placed PNU on a day Marist and Moturoa meet at Arena Manawatu. The match between the students and Wellington Phoenix has been postponed until mid-May. Details: Marist Palmerston North 1 (I. Yarwood (85)), Waterside Karori 4 ("oggie" (4), N. Ross (20, 63), R. Houghton (38))  HT 0-3 Miramar Rangers 0, Victoria University 0 Moturoa 0, Petone 2 (P. Gray (49), K. Elder (90))  HT 0-0 Wellington Phoenix 7 (K. Pugh (14), I. Temple (23), K. Solomon (45), G. Bartlett (59, 76), H. Robins (62), M. Bryant (90)), Taradale 1 (M. Hughes (44))  HT 3-1 Wellington United 6 (A. Deane (14), C. O'Reilly (38, 54), T. Watson (44), H. Pilley (64), L. Smith (69)), Palmerston North United 0  HT 3-0