THERE were just the two Women’s Premier League Cross Conference match ups on Saturday with the UWA Rangers beating the Melville Marlins and North Coast Phoenix defeating Triton.

It was the second round of Cross Conference Women’s Premier League action for the 2017-18 season on Saturday following the second three-week batch of games between teams from their own groups.

The action on Saturday got underway at HBF Stadium with the UWA Rangers defeating the Melville Marlins 14-9. Then at Bicton Pool, the North Coast Phoenix defeated Triton 11-4.

The game between Dolphins and the UWA City Beach Blues was postponed while Applecross had the bye.

What the results mean is that the Melville Marlins are 1-1 in Cross Conference matches, Applecross 1-0, North Coast Phoenix 1-0 and Dolphins 0-1 from the Fremantle Conference.

And from the UWA Conference, the UWA Rangers are 2-0, Triton 0-2 and UWA City Beach Blues 0-1.

Following the eight overall rounds of the Women’s Premier League for 2017-18, Erin Redbond from the Melville Marlins is the runaway leading scorer with 25 goals.

Chloe Nella from the Marlins as well has scored 19 goals ahead of Gemma Hadley (Phoenix) with 18 goals, Sarah Leavy (Applecross) 14, Claire Peirce (Phoenix) 13, Lara Zimmerman (Applecross) 13, Luci Marsh (Marlins) 12, Madi Rigo (Rangers) 12 and Alyssa Diacono (Rangers) 11.

Starting with Saturday’s clash at HBF Stadium between the UWA Rangers and Melville Marlins, it was the home team who scored first courtesy of Alyssa Diacono. But Melville responded just 30 seconds later through Chloe Nella.

But Rangers pulled away with the next three goals thanks to Michelle Martinelli and then two from Tayla Walsh to open up a 4-2 advantage. The Marlins did pull one back with nine seconds to go in the first quarter with Erin Redbond’s first of the game.

Again it was the Rangers asserting their authority, though, with the first two goals of the second period through Madi Rigo and Cathryn Earl to lead 6-2. The Marlins wouldn’t go away, though, and managed to hit three of the last four goals of the half to cut Rangers lead at the change of ends to 7-5.

Rangers then started the second half well with two quick goals to Diacono and Martinelli and by three quarter-time they had stretched that advantage to 11-6. It was three goals apiece in the final term as the Rangers went on to beat the Marlins 14-9.

Alyssa Diacono scored four goals for UWA Rangers, Michelle Maritnelli three, Tayla Walsh two and Dayna O’Leary two. Erin Redbond finished with three goals for Melville, Luci Marsh two and Chloe Nella two.

Diacono received the three votes after the game, Martinelli two and Melville goalkeeper Manon Gebauer one.

Then at Bicton Pool it was the North Coast Phoenix playing Triton. It was Triton who scored first courtesy of Heather Laird before the Phoenix made it 1-1 by quarter-time with a goal to Claire Peirce.

North Coast then took control to start the second period with goals to Peirce, Gemma Hadley and Claire Rechichi to lead 4-1, and they were still up 5-2 by half-time.

The Phoenix further dominated proceedings in the third quarter with the only four goals made up of two from Hadley, and one each to Zoe Rowcroft and Peirce.

Triton did manage two goals in the fourth quarter as did North Coast with the Phoenix going on to record the 11-4 victory.

Gemma Hadley scored five goals for North Coast, Claire Peirce three and Claire Rechichi two. Heather Laird scored twice for Triton.

North Coast Georgie Powers was awarded the three votes, Hadley the two and Triton’s Heather Scott one.

PREMIER LEAGUE 2017-18 WOMEN’S COMPETITION RESULTS

ROUND 8 – Saturday December 2
Cross Conference
UWA Rangers 14 defeated Melville Marlins 9
North Coast Phoenix 11 defeated Triton 4