Newly promoted Tauranga Moana were given a baptism of fire as they made their Lotto Northern Premier Women's League debut on March 22, with the opening round of action seeing them visiting Keith Hay Park, the home of reigning champions Auckland United. The title-holders were hell-bent on extending their unbeaten run to fifty games in this fixture, and did so in quite some style by the final whistle, a resounding 9-0 triumph - the biggest victory they've recorded in this sequence of results. Tauranga gave United a seventh minute scare when Hannah Mitchell kept out efforts from Briana Osborne and Miah Smith, but that was as good as it got for the visitors in an attacking sense, with the bulk of the action throughout the remainder of the contest centred around Jessica Benge's goal. Saskia Vosper hit the crossbar halfway through the first spell, while Benge thwarted Alexis Cook in a couple of one-on-one situations before Zoe Benson, one of a number of additions to United's squad, broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time. That opened the floodgates, with the goals flowing like fine wine throughout the second spell. Rene Wasi and Danielle Canham struck within four minutes of the resumption of play, with the speedster making it 4-0 in the 57th minute, capping off a fine move in the process. Talisha Green was denied a headed goal from a corner by an offside call from debutant referee Boaz Peach which left everyone bemused, but Ava Pritchard made it five soon afterwards. Canham saw a flying header crash against the upright thirteen minutes from time, but went on to complete her hat-trick in the time remaining. Her strikes were complemented by goals from Penny Brill and Cook as Tauranga were left in no doubt that the step up from the Lotto Northern Premier Women's Championship to the best league in the country is quite a significant one. Auckland's efforts were watched by Kaley Ward, who is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after a recent car accident. I'm sure I speak for all readers in wishing her a speedy and full recovery. Last season's runners-up, West Coast Rangers, and third place-getters, Eastern Suburbs, both got off to winning starts in their respective Friday evening fixtures, with "The Lilywhites" prevailing 2-0 over Fencibles United in their East Auckland derby at Riverhills Park. Goals in each half from Putri Ardana and Sofia Garcia extended Suburbs' winning streak over United to four games, with Fencibles yet to score in any of their encounters with their more experienced neighbours, who have added the qualities of former Hibiscus Coast duo Charley March and Stacey Martin to their ranks for the 2025 season. Rangers, too, have been busy in the transfer market under new gaffer Andrew Clay, with former Korean Republic U-20 international Minji Yun headlining their recruits, although they have suffered a blow with Bree Johnson taking time out from the game. They still have the services of last season's Golden Boot winner, Shannon Henson, though, and she showed she's well up for back-to-back individual honours in this category with a two-goal salvo which inspired a 4-1 come-from-behind win over "The Coasters" at a surprisingly wet Fred Taylor Park … you never know when a pop-up sprinkler is poised to strike! Henson's double sandwiched an Emily Lyon strike before the half-time whistle, Yun wrapping up the scoring early in the second spell, Sian Field having opened the scoring in the seventh minute for the visitors, who are also under new management. Caleb Ward has succeeded Asher Trotter in the role, his first task being to replace striker Danica Urlich-

Beech, who is playing football on West Island this year. Across town at Seddon Fields, Western Springs came from two goals down to hold a revitalised Ellerslie - featuring Rebecca Burrows in commanding form against her old club - to a 2-2 draw, "The Hoops"' goals both coming from the penalty spot late in each half through new recruits Nanami Omasa and Belinda Van Noorden, the latter a former age-grade international. It was a current age-grade international who scored the first goal of the season, although it's not one Charli Dunn will want to lay claim to. As "oggies" go, though, it's set a high benchmark for the 2025 campaign, as did Abby Wright's diving header six minutes before half-time in a contest which saw Kimberley Oosterbeek denied by Tiana Hill's goal-line clearance, and rookie referee Pranil Gordhan finish the contest at least three minutes earlier than expected. Second round action on Friday night sees "The Hoops" welcoming Rangers to Seddon Fields, while "The Coasters" and "Fencies" do battle on the North Harbour Stadium "Tigerturf". Sunday's fare sees "The Lilywhites" and Auckland squaring up at Madills Farm, while "The Ponies" are the first visitors to Tauranga's Links Avenue home in 2025. Details: Auckland United 9 (Z. Benson (45), R. Wasi (46, 57), D. Canham (49, 81, 90), A. Pritchard (68), P. Brill (78), A. Cook (82)), Tauranga Moana 0  HT 1-0 Fencibles United 0, Eastern Suburbs 2 (P. Ardana (26), S. Garcia (46))  HT 0-1 West Coast Rangers 4 (S. Henson (12, 43), E. Lyon (32), M. Yun (51)), Hibiscus Coast 1 (S, Field (7))  HT 3-1 Western Springs 2 (N. Omasa (45 pen), B. Van Noorden (89 pen)), Ellerslie 2 ("oggie" (4), A. Wright (39))  HT 1-2 The last weekend in March sees the vast majority of the women's league competitions kicking off around the countryside. But we won't see Hamilton Wanderers in action, with last season's last-place-getters in the Lotto Northern Premier Women's League having withdrawn from the Championship due to insufficient numbers - the playing resources simply don't stretch far enough to cover four senior level teams in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty region. The promotion of Cambridge to the Lotto Northern Premier Women's Championship hasn't aided Hamilton's cause, Wanderers having been replaced by Onehunga-Mangere United. Both newcomers face challenging fixtures in Sunday's opening round, with "The Scarlets" heading across the Harbour Bridge to take on Northern Rovers at McFetridge Park, while Cambridge welcome Birkenhead United to John Kerkhof Park. Melville United and Franklin United square off at Gower Park, while the first Central Auckland derby of the season takes place at Kiwitea Street, where Central United and Onehunga Sports lock horns. Two games are scheduled on the opening weekend of action in the ten-team - up from eight - Central Region Premier Women's League, with Wellington Phoenix taking on Waterside Karori at Fraser Park on Saturday, twenty-four hours before Palmerston North United and Moturoa draw swords at Memorial Park. The South Island Women's League kicks off on Saturday, with Nelson Suburbs enjoying the first round bye in this nine-team league. Coastal Spirit and Roslyn Wakari meet at Tane Norton Park on a day Dunedin City Royals welcome Halswell United to Logan Park and Canterbury Universities and Nomads-Waimakariri United engage at English Park. Sunday's fare sees Otago University entertaining reigning champions Cashmere Technical at Logan Park.