Coastal Spirit SAS look set to go through the New World Women's Premiership unbeaten after defeating their closest rivals, Cashmere Technical, 3 - 2 in a highly entertaining match. Universities were too strong for Nomads, winning 7 - 0 with Ferrymead Bays defeating Waimak 2 - 1. With one round to play, Coastal SAS has 42 points. Technical is on 33 with Universities in third place on 25. Waimak is on 13, one ahead of Bays with Nomads yet to claim a point. 

There were early chances at both ends between Coastal SAS and Technical, with Mel Cameron and Britney-Lee Nicholson going close for the champions with Emma Kench going close for Tech. Nicholson opened the scoring after 20 minutes, with chances going begging at both ends before Nicholson came off injured. Jayda Stewart then doubled the lead on the hour before Chloe Jones extended the lead ten minutes later. Technical hit straight back with Kench replying minutes later. With five minutes to play, Kate Guildford tested Coastal SAS keeper Una Foyle with a shot with Foyle equal to the task when tipping the ball over for the bar. The ball was cleared out to Kate Taylor from the corner, who fired home through a wall of players to set a hectic final five, with Technical having several chances to end Coastal SAS perfect record. Technical now play Bays on Tuesday evening in the Blackwells Reta Fitzpatrick Cup Semi-Final, with the winner joining Coastal SAS in the Final later in the month.

Universities took an early lead when Frank Morrow opened the scoring after just 4 minutes, with Morrow then completing her hat-trick when scoring two times in the final four minutes before the break. Kelsey Barrett extended the lead just after the break before Erin Roxburgh added a fifth before Morrow added two more late in the game to bag five for the game.

Bays secure their fourth win of the season at the expense of Waimak. Lucrettia Taylor put Waimak in front after thirteen minutes in what turned out to be the only goal of the opening half. Bays captain Sophie Williams then locked up the scoreboard in the 65th minute, with Elinor Clark scoring the winner five minutes later.   

The final round sees Coastal SAS hosting Bays, Universities take on Technical with Waimak facing Nomads.

New World Women's Premiership - Round 14 of 15

Cashmere Technical 2 (Emma Kench. Kate Taylor) Coastal Spirit SAS 3 (Britney-Lee Nicholson, Jayda Stewart, Chloe Jones) HT 0 - 1

Ferrymead Bays 2 (Sophie Williams, Elinor Clark) Waimak 1 (Lucrettia Taylor) HT 0 - 1

Nomads 0 Universities 7 (Frankie Morrow 5, Erin Roxburgh, Kelsey Barrett) HT 0 - 3

Bays Secure Vital Win In Quest For Southern League Spot

Ferrymead Bays secured a vital win in their quest for a spot in the expanded ten-team Southern League in 2022 when coming out on top of Nomads 3 - 2. FC Twenty11 were too strong against Western when winning 4 - 0, with Halswell edging Waimak 2 - 1. After three rounds, Bays have 9 points, FC, Nomads and Halswell all have 6 points, with both Western and Waimak on 0.

Bays took the early initiative over Nomads when Rhys Williams scored in the opening minutes with Nomads, then hitting back when Declan Hickford levelled after 28 minutes and then took the lead minutes later when Liam Thompson scored to send Nomads to the break ahead. Caleb Mason put Bays back on level terms after coming into the game off the bench, with Ryan Stanley scoring what turned out to be the winning goal with 20 to play.

FC took control of the game against Western when scoring twice in the opening 12 minutes, the first to Daniel Oakman, with Harrison Bowman claiming the second. In the final minutes, the score blew out when Jake Neill scored with two to play, and then Conor Clarke added the fourth in added time.

Danny Loney scored Waimak's first goal of the competition after 15 minutes, with Ryan Bellamy ensuring the Hawks went to the break level when scoring in added time. Chris Whiteside kept alive Halswell hopes of Southern League football next season when breaking the stalemate with 20 minutes remaining.   

In the coming round, FC host Halswell on Friday evening with Nomads at home to Waimak with Western taking on Bays.

Southern Qualifying League - Round 3 of 5

Ferrymead Bays 3 (Rhys Williams, Ryan Stanley, Caleb Mason) Nomads 2 (Declan Hickford, Liam Thompson) HT 1 - 2

Waimak 1 (Danny Loney) Halswell 2 (Ryan Bellamy, Chris Whiteside) HT 1 - 1

Western 0 FC Twenty11 4 (Daniel Oakman, Harrison Bowman, Jake Neill, Conor Clarke) HT 0 - 2 

Parklands Top Trophy Table

Parklands moved to the top of the New World Championship Trophy table after edging St Albans Shirley 2 - 1, with Universities travelling south to defeating Mid Canterbury 3 - 0. Burwood sat the round out with the bye. Parklands now have 6 points, three clear of Burwood, Universities and Mid Canterbury, with SAS points-less.

Stephen Livingstone put Parklands ahead in the opening minutes before Finn Gaupset scored for SAS midway into the first half, with Danny Lingard securing the win when scoring late in the game for Parklands.  

Adam Doherty scored a double for Universities against Mid Canterbury, with Matthew Shaw bagging the other goal.

Round 4 match-ups see Burwood entertaining Mid Canterbury, Parklands host Universities with SAS having the bye. 

New World Championship Trophy - Round 3 of 5

Mid Canterbury 0 Universities 3 (Adam Doherty 2, Matthew Shaw) HT 0 - 1

St Albans Shirley 1 (Finn Gaupset) Parklands 2 (Stephen Livingstone, Danny Lingard) HT 1 - 1

Burwood the bye 

Written by Gavin Searle.
Article added: Monday 02 August 2021