A dozen goals in two Friday night games got the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League weekend off to an exciting start with wins for Auckland United and Western Springs.
Here’s how the games went:
Puketapu leads way with hat-trick for United
A hat-trick by former Football Fern Martine Puketapu inspired Auckland United’s 5-2 win against West Coast Rangers at Huapai Reserve.
The 24-year-old striker had scored only twice this season leading into the Friday match but she found the net in the 18th, 50th and 61st minutes.
Rangers had taken the lead after only four minutes through Chloe Bellamy before Puketapu levelled.
Stella Lawson and Bree Johnson then added goals for United, giving them a 3-1 lead at the break.
Puketapu secured her hat-trick, giving United plenty of comfort until Rangers grabbed a late consolation through Marissa Porteous.
Main photo: Martine Puketapu … hat-trick at Huapai. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Springs edge Ellerslie at North Harbour Stadium
Western Springs came out the better in a five-goal contest with Ellerslie at North Harbour Stadium.
The game was scoreless for more than half an hour but both sides came alive as half-time approached.
Ellerslie took the lead through Kimberley Oosterbeek in the 33rd minute.
Springs bounced back with two goals in as many minutes, with Rina Hirano and Chloe Henderson finding the net before half-time.
In the second spell, Henderson extended Springs lead to 3-1 in the 59th minute.
Kathryn Gow pulled back a goal in the 75th minute to make the last quarter hour a race for the finish. But the Springs defence held firm and they secured the points.
Results
Games played Friday July 15, 2022
Western Springs 3 (Rina Hirano 39′, Chloe Henderson 41′, 59′)
Ellerslie 2 (Kimberley Oosterbeek 33′, Kathryn Gow 75′)
West Coast Rangers 2 (Chloe Bellamy 4′, Marissa Porteous 89′)
Auckland United 5 (Martine Puketapu 18′, 50′, 61′, Stella Lawson 36′, Bree Johnson 38′)
Standings
Fixtures
Games to be played Sunday July 17, 2022
Click here for our preview >>>>
Eastern Suburbs v Hamilton Wanderers
Madills Farm, Auckland, 1pm
Northern Rovers v Tauranga City
McFetridge Park, Auckland, 2pm
More stories
