In the first game of the day, the Suns knocked off the WA Diamonds 3-2 after Leah Welstead scored the first-ever converted field goal during a PumpPlay, meaning it was worth three goals.

At Darwin’s Marrara Hockey Centre, the goals flowed for the Vics who capitalised on the new rule innovations introduced for the 2018 AHL, with numerous converted field goals.

The Vipers crushed the NT Pearls 13-0 with Hockeyroos forward Emily Hurtz scoring four goals, while Aisling Utri and Madi Ratcliffe grabbed three each at Marrara Hockey Centre.

NT Pearls 0 Victoria Vipers 13 (Utri 7’, 42’, 42’, Brazel 7’, Hurtz 11’, 15’, 44’, 44’, Gravenall 30’, Ratcliffe 30’, 40’, 40’, Hammond 45’), Darwin

The reigning champions have started their title defence emphatically, crushing the Pearls in humid Darwin, racing away to a four-goal quarter-time lead.

Young forward Aisling Utri opened the scoring before Hockeyroo Lily Brazel converted a seventh minute penalty stroke.

Reigning AHL top scorer Emily Hurtz scored a quickfire double before the opening break, with Hannah Gravenall and Madi Ratcliffe adding further goals before half-time.

After 10 minutes of third quarter resistance, the Vics piled on the goals with Ratcliffe scoring a converted field goal, along with Utri and Hurtz.

Nicola Hammond rounded out the scoring, making it 13-0 before the final change, although she was denied from her conversion attempt.

SA Suns 3 (Welstead 28' PP, 28') WA Diamonds 2 (Rogers-Uff 41', Tonkin 54'), Adelaide

The SA Suns edged the WA Diamonds 3-2 with SA Premier League Best and Fairest winner Welstead netting a converted field goal during her side's PumpPlay late in the first half.

Welstead raced into the D and fired in an angled shot which eluded everyone and went in at the far post. She wrong-footed WA keeper Aleisha Power to add the conversion to make it 3-0.

Sage Rogers-Uff and Shanea Tonkin scored second-half goals for WA but both missed their conversion attempts.

Rogers-Uff pulled one back in the 41st minute from point-blank range after a good run from Kathryn Slattery. SA keeper Ash Wells made a good low save to deny her from the conversion attempt.

Tonkin made it 3-2 with six minutes left when Wells couldn’t only parry Slattery’s shot. Wells pressured Tonkin well from the conversion attempt with the Diamond blazing over the top in a crucial play.

WA used their PumpPlay in the final five minutes but couldn’t find a winner.

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