WOMEN'S HOCKEY: The return to action of two of their Irish internationals, Tara Browne and Linda Caulfield, as well as Jill Hodgins and Jenny Osborne, who had been out through injury, helped Hermes get back on track with a 1-0 win over Pembroke Wanderers in the league on Saturday, a week after their Irish Senior Cup exit at the hands of Belfast Harlequins. Mary Hannigan reports.

Mary Logue got the game's only goal, converting a short corner after 23 minutes from a Helen Kilroy switch, before solid goalkeeping from Browne, who made a fine double save from Viv Doran midway through the second half, and a Kilroy block on another Doran effort late in the game, frustrated Pembroke's efforts from their six corners.

The win puts six points between Hermes and Pembroke, with seven games to go, but the champions are still facing a determined challenge from Loreto, just two points behind, and Old Alexandra, who moved above Pembroke in to third place with a 3-2 win over Railway on Saturday.

For the second week running Loreto scored 10 goals in a game, with Trinity the latest victims of their rampant attack. Sarah Scott helped herself to five goals, with Nikki Symmons and Cathy McKean scoring two apiece.

UCD and Corinthian are now level on 18 points after the students' 2-0 victory over Genesis and Corinthian's 7-0 defeat of Glenanne (Judy Muldowney and Kathy Johnson both scored hat-tricks), making it six points in two days after their 4-0 win over Genesis on Friday night.

Ulster, meanwhile, regained the under-16 interprovincial title they lost to Munster last year in emphatic style at St Andrew's on Saturday, finishing the tournament with a flawless record - played four, won four, scored 18 and conceded none. South East, who had won their opening games, saw their challenge effectively ended on Saturday morning when they lost 3-2 to Munster, before losing 3-0 to Ulster later in the day.