One of the leading teams in the South Island Women's League is set to lose their perfect record for the 2025 season next Saturday, as the four foremost contenders drew further clear of their rivals in the race for the silverware on Good Friday. With co-leaders Dunedin City Royals enjoying the bye on Easter weekend, Otago University took the chance to take the outright lead in the competition by recording a 5-0 win over Roslyn Wakari at Logan Park. "The Ponies" made the students work for their win, however, as it took until five minutes before half-time for the deadlock to be broken by Georgia Nixon, who netted a second soon after the hour mark. Roslyn fell away after that goal, with Madison Kay, Leila Hausia-Haugen and substitute Kate Johnstone blowing out the scoreline in the final quarter of this Dunedin derby, leaving the beaten team without a win to their name after four rounds of action - long gone are the days when "The Ponies" ruled the roost in Dunedin, as they did roughly fifteen years ago. Canterbury's finest both scored victories to draw level on points with "The Royals", Cashmere Technical earning theirs the hard way after Nomads-Waimakariri United put up a terrific tussle at Kendall Park. Saskia Pelham broke the deadlock for "Tech" ten minutes before half-time, but it wasn't until the 86th minute that substitute Tessa Toombs made the game safe for the reigning champions, whose 2-0 win keeps them ahead of cross-town rivals Coastal Spirit on goal difference. Kelly Almond's team were bolstered by the return of captain and free-scoring Futsal Ferns star Britney-Lee Nicholson for this match, as well as new recruit Olivia Hooper, at last in an environment where her undoubted talent is certain to shine. Neither was on the mark at Tane Norton Park, however, because the spotlight was shining firmly on hat-trick heroine Margi Dias come the final whistle, her treble propelling Spirit to a 4-2 win over Canterbury Universities. Frankie Morrow opened the scoring for the home team before Dias took centre stage, but goals from Sophie Hartshaw - a penalty on the stroke of the interval - and Liv Deane, who pulled the students back to within a goal of their cross-town rivals six minutes from time, ensured the victors had to work for their win. Mother Nature's intervention put the skids on Halswell United's trip to Nelson Suburbs, so both teams continue to prop up the standings without a point to their name, "The Hawks"' inferior goal difference meaning they occupy the bottom rung of the league ladder. The first Morrison Mitsubishi Reta Fitzpatrick Cup tie of the season takes place on Wednesday evening, with Hornby United and FC Twenty11 vying for a place in the quarter-finals when they clash at Avonhead Park. Anzac weekend action sees the focus very much on the clash between unbeaten duo "The Royals" and Spirit at Logan Park on Saturday, a day on which two other fixtures are scheduled. With both boasting three wins from as many matches, something's got to give, so this is a key contest at this early stage of the season. "The Hawks" welcome NWU to Halswell Domain, while Cashmere should prove too strong for "The Ponies" at Garrick Memorial Park. Nelson travels to English Park to take on Canterbury Universities on Sunday. Details: Coastal Spirit 4 (F. Morrow (22), M. Dias (26, 36, 86)), Canterbury Universities 2 (S. Hartshaw (45 pen), L. Deane (84))  HT 3-1 Nelson Suburbs v. Halswell United, postponed Nomads-Waimakariri United 0, Cashmere Technical 2 (S. Pelham (34), T. Toombs (86))  HT 0-1 Roslyn Wakari 0, Otago University 5 (G. Nixon (40, 62), M. Kay (68), L. Hausia-Haugen (78), K. Johnstone (90))  HT 0-1

Wellington United drew level with Wellington Phoenix at the top of the Central Region Premier Women's League on Good Friday, a result of thrashing Taradale 6-0 at Taradale Park, where the visitors scored thrice in each half. Farina Anchico bookended the first half scoring, her brace bolstered by another strike which maintained Hannah Pilley's goal-per-game record for the season so far. After half-time, Natalie Olson got in on the act before Carolyn O'Reilly grabbed the limelight, scoring twice. With the co-leaders' clash with Victoria University having been rescheduled to mid-May, the spotlight fell on other potential title contenders on Saturday. Petone stepped up to the plate with a 5-1 mauling of Miramar Rangers, an eleven-minute hat-trick from Pepi Olliver-Bell the individual highlight of the game. A quickfire double from Emma Lantz and Phoebe Gray halfway through the first half put the home team in charge at Petone Memorial Park, with Pepi's goal-fest beginning within minutes of the second half's commencement. Iris Reweti-Gould scored a consolation goal for Rangers fifteen minutes from time. Waterside Karori had to battle for their 3-0 win over Palmerston North United at Karori Park, where Nicola Ross gave "The Magpies" a seventh minute lead. She struck again in second half stoppage time, after Rhianna Houghton had doubled the home team's advantage to finally quell the challenge of a team which has yet to score this season. At Arena Manawatu, Marist Palmerston North came from behind to down Moturoa 3-1, Sasha Rasmussen having given the visitors the advantage on the quarter hour. But a two-goal salvo in four minutes just shy of the hour mark from Amber Mahoney turned things round for Marist, who made certain of victory when Isabella Yarwood struck seventeen minutes from time. There are matches across all three days of Anzac Day weekend, with PNU and Taradale clashing at Memorial Park on the public holiday. Moturoa welcome "The Magpies" to Onuku Taipari Domain on Saturday, the same day on which "The Diamonds" and the students draw swords at Newtown Park. Sunday's fare sees Miramar and Marist meeting at Dave Farrington Park, while Wellington Phoenix's U-18s are back in action, with Petone looking to throw a spanner in the works at Fraser Park. There's also a Kate Sheppard Cup tie taking place in the Central Region on Anzac Day, with Wairarapa United welcoming Seatoun to the Solway Showgrounds, the first step on the road to the final on September 6. Details: Marist Palmerston North 3 (A. Mahoney (56, 60), I. Yarwood (73)), Moturoa 1 (S. Rasmussen (14))  HT 0-1 Petone 5 (E. Lantz (21), P. Gray (25), P. Olliver-Bell (48, 54, 58)), Miramar Rangers 1 (I. Reweti-Gould (74))  HT 2-0 Taradale 0, Wellington United 6 (F. Anchico (3, 38), H. Pilley (15), N. Olson (58), C. O'Reilly (60, 79))  HT 0-3 Victoria University v. Wellington Phoenix, postponed Waterside Karori 3 (N. Ross (7, 90), R. Houghton (79)), Palmerston North United 0  HT 1-0