10-08-2025
Royals stay perfect to clinch South Island crown
The Dunedin City Royals celebrate winning the Women's South Island League in Nelson on Saturday. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The Dunedin City Royals have been crowned the queens of the South Island.
They wrapped up the Women's South Island League title with two rounds to spare after beating Nelson Suburbs 3-1 in wet conditions on Saturday.
Youngster Hannah Scott — the 15-year-old getting her first start — scored the opener two minutes in before Nelson equalised through Samantha Crawford.
Defender Hannah Mackay-Wright scored a brilliant penalty in the 68th minute and Amy Hislop sealed it for the Royals with a screamer in the 82nd minute.
It was good reward for a team who were up at 4.30am to catch a flight to Nelson and had a "sluggish" warm-up.
Head coach Kris Ridley could not be prouder of his players, who knuckled down over the past few weeks to win the title.
"It's what we set out for at the start," Ridley said.
"We wanted to win the Kate Sheppard Cup and the league.
"Cup, we were a bit short, but the league, we've done everything right so far. Three points every week and that's sort of what we aim for.
"Just really proud of the group.
"It's been a massive effort, especially probably the last three or four games."
There was further reason to celebrate with stalwart Kelsey Kennard bringing up her 250th game.
"We wanted to make it as special as we could," Ridley said.
"The girls were probably doing whatever they could to win for Kelsey as well as winning the league, so it was a good double."
Roslyn-Wakari drew 1-1 with NW United.
Amelie East-Giles opening the scoring in the 13th minute but Roslyn conceded the equaliser in the first half stoppage time.
Otago University beat Universities of Canterbury 2-0 in Christchurch yesterday.
— There is still all to play for ODT Women's Southern Premiership with only one point separating Green Island, University and the Royals.
Green Island beat Queens Park 3-0 with Hannah Post scoring a brace, University beat Roslyn-Wakari 3-1, and the Royals, who had beaten Northern 7-0 in a midweek catch-up game, were held to a 0-0 draw by Northern.
The Royals have a game in hand.
