Coastal Spirit SAS was untroubled to defeated Ferrymead Bays 7 - 0 in the final round of the New World Women's Premiership to make it 15 wins from 15 and become the first side to claim the title without dropping points since the league commenced in 2004. In other games, Cashmere Technical and Universities played out another high scoring game, with Technical winning 6 - 2 and Waimak defeated Nomads 6 - 1.

Alyssa Whinham opened the scoring with an excellent finish early in the game, with Mel Cameron scoring Coastal SAS' only other goal of the first half. Whitney Hepburn then added a third with a long-range effort when play resumed. Whinham added her second goal on the hour, quickly followed by goals from Rebecca Wilson and Jayda Stewart, with the final goal going to Tessa Burns. 

Jonelle Arthur lead the way for Technical with a hat-trick, with Kate Taylor scoring a brace and the sides other goal went to Kate Guildford. Universities goals went to Frankie Morrow and Gabrielle MacGregor.

Lucrettia Taylor claimed a treble for Waimak to end the season as her sides top scorer. Charlotte Roche added a double, with Lily Fisher scoring the other goal. Nomads replied when Abigale Gerken scored her debut premiership goal. 

New World Women's Premiership - Results / Scorers

Coastal Spirit 7 (Alyssa Whinham 2, Mel Cameron, Whitney Hepburn, Rebecca Wilson, Jayda Stewart, Tessa Burns) Ferrymead Bays 0 HT 2 - 0

Universities 2 (Frankie Morrow, Gabrielle MacGregor) Cashmere Technical 6 (Jonelle Arthur 3, Kate Taylor 2, Kate Guildford) HT 1 - 3

Waimak 6 (Lucrettia Taylor 3, Charlotte Roche 2, Lily Fisher) Nomads 1 (Abigale Gerken) HT 4 - 0

Qualifying League To Be Decided In Final Round

The top two in the New World Southern Qualifying League have yet to be decided with one round to play. Leader's Ferrymead Bays were kept honest before edging Western 4 - 3, and Nomads also had to work hard before overcoming Waimak 2 - 1. In the final game, FC Twenty 11 defeated Halswell 2 - 0. Bays still top the table with the possible 12 points with FC and Nomads on 9. FC have the better goal difference by five goals, Halswell has 6 with both Western and Waimak yet to secure a point.

Western opened the scoring when Isaac Cantrick scored in the opening minute, with Ryan Stanley and Taylor Catlow both scoring in the space of four minutes to put Bays 2 - 1 going to the break. A second from Catlow early in the second half extended Bays lead, but Rodrigo Balcazar replied almost immediately for Western to reduce the lead to a goal. Omar Cameron then locked up the scoreboard with twenty to play, but a goal from Rhys Williams with eight to play put Bays back in front and within a point of securing a Southern League berth in 2021.

There were plenty of scoring chances in the opening half between Nomads and Waimak, with Preston Bell finally breaking the deadlock to put Waimak ahead after 30 minutes. Waimak then defended well, with their keeper Brad Eiffe pulling off several excellent saves. Nomads came out strongly in the second half and levelled when a pinpoint cross from Caleb Cottom was fired home by Liam Thompson. Minutes later, Nomads hit the post before they took the lead when a cross was played on by a Waimak defender into the path of Nathan Dix, who scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the 55th minute. 

FC kept alive their hopes of a top-two finish when defeating Halswell on Friday evening. Harrison Bowman continued his goal run with a stunning strike after just seven minutes. Jesse Ruwhiu then doubled the lead in the 18th, with the win keeping alive FC's hopes of a top-two finish.

The final round see's Bays facing FC, Nomads are away to Halswell, with Waimak having the home advantage over Western.

New World Southern Qualifying League - Results / Scorers

FC Twenty11 2 (Harrison Bowman, Jesse Ruwhiu) Halswell 0 HT 2 - 0

Nomads 2 (Liam Thompson, Nathan Dix) Waimak 1 (Preston Bell) HT 0 - 1

Western 3 (Isaac Cantrick, Rodrigo Balcazar, Omar Cameron) Ferrymead Bays 4 (Taylor Catlow 2, Ryan Stanley, Rhys Williams) HT 1 - 2

Universities One Hand On Trophy

Universities have one hand on the New World Men's Championship Trophy going into the final round after making it three wins on the bounce, all without giving up a goal when they defeated Parklands 4 - 0. Burwood won the other game, 5 - 2 over Mid Canterbury, with St Albans Shirley (SAS) having the weekend off with the bye. Universities have 9 points, three clear of Burwood, with Parklands who have finished their campaign on 6, the same as Mid Canterbury, with SAS on 3. 

Adam Doherty scored early for the students, with Stuart Campbell then doubling the lead from the penalty spot. Two quick goals after the break, to Saul Preshner and Luke Whitwell, took the game away from Parklands.

Burwood made the most of their early chances to go two up after just eight minutes, the first to Hugo Toye and quickly followed by a strike from Kane Kilbride, with Toye then bagging two more goals either side of the break. Mid Canterbury then pulled a goal back when Millar McLauchlan scored and, not to be outdone, younger brother Oskar McLauchlan added another for the Ashburton side, with Toye then scoring his fourth goal on added time.

In the final round, Universities host Burwood and SAS face Mid Canterbury, with Parklands having the bye.  

New World Championship Trophy - Results / Scorers

Burwood 5 (Hugo Toye 4, Kane Kilbride) Mid Canterbury 2 (Millar McLauchlan, Oskar McLauchlan) HT 3- 0

Parklands 0 University 4 (Adam Doherty, Stuart Campbell - pen, Saul Preshner, Luke Whitwell) HT 0 - 2  

St Albans Shirley the bye 

Written by Gavin Searle. 
Article added: Monday 09 August 2021