'Big three' have a big weekend

WOMENS HOCKEY: With 16 goals between them on Saturday, and only two in reply, the "big three", Loreto, Hermes and Old Alexandra, haven't, it seems, taken long to find their stride in the new season. UCD's defeat by Loreto means the three are now the only unbeaten sides in the first division, giving a familiar look to the table.

While Hermes and Alexandra might have expected to take full points from their games against Clontarf and Genesis, both still finding their feet in the new campaign, Loreto would have been on their guard for the visit of a talented UCD side, playing only their second game of the season.

And, indeed, the students did manage to trouble Loreto in the opening exchanges at Beaufort, before the league champions found their range. They were two goals up by the break, and added three more in the second half - Nikki Keegan (two), Linda O'Neill, Cathy McKean and Sarah Scott were the scorers - with Jilly Cotter getting UCD's goal.

Hermes needed a big second-half performance against Clontarf at Mount Temple after the newcomers held them to 1-1 in the first half; three more goals after the break sealed the points.

Alexandra, though, had a comfortable afternoon against Genesis, with Galwegian Ciara Murphy getting a hat-trick and Zanya Dahl and Laura McCoy scoring two each in a 7-0 win.

It proved to be an encouraging weekend for Three Rock, who took their first point of the season on Saturday in a 1-1 draw with Corinthians. EJ Walsh gave Three Rock a first-half lead before Kathy Johnson equalised in the second.

They then beat UCD 2-1 yesterday, with Dawn Kelly (ex-Hermes) and Brigid Charmant getting their goals.

Around this time last season Railway Union lost 3-0 to Pembroke Wanderers, but on Saturday there was yet more evidence of their development when they beat their "neighbours" 3-1 after going a goal down to Siobhán Kane. Emma Smith, Áine Jolley and Anna Wairpo scored in the second half for Railway.

Ballymoney and Belfast Harlequins made it four wins out of four in Ulster's Section One, with Harlequins' 2-1 win at Randalstown, last season's runners-up, particularly noteworthy.

Pegasus, meanwhile, inflicted on Victorians their fourth successive defeat, beating them 4-1.