Leinster race to go to the end

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:While Pegasus and Cork Harlequins edge ever closer to retaining the Ulster and Munster league titles they have held, respectively, for a seemingly interminable period of time, the Leinster first division, once again, is proving to be by far the most competitive of the Irish leagues.

The top four - Loreto, Hermes, Old Alexandra and Pembroke Wanderers - all won again on Saturday, although Loreto were frustrated for 65 minutes by second-from-bottom Trinity before Sarah Scott finally got the goal that maintained their lead at the top of the table.

Hermes and Alexandra, who also won their Jacqui Potter Cup quarter-final ties yesterday, had more comfortable afternoons on Saturday; Molly Powers and Aoife Harte shared four goals in Hermes' 5-0 defeat of Three Rock, and Jeamie Deacon was again on the scoresheet in Alexandra's 3-0 win over Corinthian.

There'll be no white flags waved at Garryduff just yet, but Church of Ireland's 3-0 defeat by Cork Harlequins last Thursday night, which put the champions a point clear with a game in hand, realistically leaves them playing for second place. They went some way towards securing that runners-up spot, and a place in the play-offs, by beating third-placed Catholic Institute 5-0 at Garryduff on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in Ulster, any hopes Randalstown might have had of loosening the grip Pegasus have had on the title all but ended on Saturday when they could only draw (3-3) with Ballymoney.

David Agnew, the Randalstown coach, conceded the title to Pegasus after the game, instead targeting the runners-up spot for which Ards look like being their main rivals.