Two-time defending premiers Oxfords have regained the competition lead after narrowly accounting for Souths in Saturday's grand final replay, inspired by Hockey Australia hall of famer and club life member Colleen Quinn.
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Oxfords (17), now one point clear of Regals and Gosford (16) on the NDWHA premier league ladder, defeated fourth-placed Souths (14) 2-1 at Newcastle International Hockey Centre after ringing Merewether's former national captain.
"She turned 90 a couple of weeks ago and we rang up to sing happy birthday and she gave us a pep talk before the game," Oxfords coach Thea O'Sullivan said.
Kim Tuckwell and Niamh Dixon scored for Oxfords in the second half before Teyjah Abell responded for Souths.
Elsewhere in round nine Marlin Hoppen's hat-trick helped Regals double Central (13) 8-4 in a high-scoring affair and Tigers (13) beat University (7) 3-0 with Bianca Cheetham, Kirsten Drysdale and Charmaine Piper all finding the back of the net.
Gosford had the bye.
NDWHA: Oxfords 17; Regals, Gosford 16; Souths 14; Tigers, Central 13; University 7.
