Franklin United and FC Tauranga Moana continued on their winning ways in the Lotto Northern Women's Championship on May 19, exploiting a shock loss by title rivals Onehunga Sports in the process. "The Green Machine" was humbled 2-1 by Melville United at Gower Park, never really recovering after Miche Cloete gave the home team an eighth minute lead. Hayley Bilk restored parity just before half-time, but Laura Bennett struck the winner for United on the hour as Melville took full advantage of the absence of Sports' defensive lynchpin, Sivitha Boyce, to record their first win of the season. Over the Kaimais, Tauranga scored a comfortable 3-0 win over Manukau United at Links Avenue, Grace Duncan scoring twice in a four-minute burst before half-time to set up the home team's victory, one confirmed in the shadows of the final whistle by Abi Witney-Collins. Franklin also left it late to confirm victory as they overcame Central United 3-1 at the Drury Sports Complex. A brace of Britney Cunningham-Lee goals had them two goals to the good by the half-hour mark, but Danika Chhour halved the deficit soon afterwards, and it wasn't until Sarah Carpenter struck in the shadows of the full-time whistle that the home team could be certain of all three points.

The North Harbour derby at Shepherds Park saw Northern Rovers overcome Birkenhead United 2-1 courtesy a brace of Ivy Calonne goals, with substitute Riley Redfern-Hardisty reducing the deficit for the home team in stoppage time as Rovers held onto the coat-tails of the promotion-chasing trio. The clash of Sports and Franklin at Waikaraka Park this Sunday is the feature fixture in the seventh round of action, with Tauranga's visit to McFetridge Park to take on Northern a fourth versus first encounter. Central welcome Birkenhead to Kiwitea Street, while Manukau and Melville meet at Walter Massey Park where the home team will be striving to record their first win of the campaign - they are the only side yet to score one this season. Details: Birkenhead United 1 (R. Redfern-Hardisty (90)), Northern Rovers 2 (I. Calonne (29, 47))  HT 0-1 FC Tauranga Moana 3 (G. Duncan (36, 39), A. Witney-Collins (89)), Manukau United 0  HT 2-0 Franklin United 3 (B. Cunningham-Lee (6, 29), S. Carpenter (89)), Central United 1 (D. Chhour (31))  HT 2-1 Melville United 2 (M. Cloete (8), L. Bennett (61)), Onehunga Sports 1 (H. Bilk (41))  HT 1-1