Loreto out to open title race

Having lost out to Hermes in last weekend's Irish Senior Cup tie at Belfield, Loreto will hope that tomorrow's sequel at Beaufort in the Leinster League has a happier ending. Indeed, if Loreto, the defending champions, can beat the current leaders the title race will be wide open, making March's fixture between the teams, a potential league decider.

Victory for Hermes, though, might make the climax to this particular drama a predictable one, even if tomorrow's game only marks the halfway point in the season. Hermes would move seven points clear of Loreto, remaining six ahead of Old Alexandra (if they beat Trinity), a gap that begins to have an unbridgeable look about it.

Judging by the size of the crowd at Belfield last Saturday the battle between the league's only remaining unbeaten teams has created significant interest.

Old Alexandra, meantime, wouldn't object to Hermes and Loreto cancelling each other out tomorrow with a draw.

Three points from their tie away to Trinity would then leave Alexandra level on points with Loreto and just three behind Hermes, giving us yet another genuine three horse race for the title.

Trinity's Irish international Linda Caulfield will be presented with her Computershare Player of the Month award tomorrow, making her the second of Fintan Butler's team to collect the award this season - Lynsey Feeney was last month's recipient.

In Munster, Harlequins should extend their lead at the top of division one when they play Church of Ireland at Farmers' Cross while the University of Limerick have a chance of picking up six points this weekend from two home games, against Lansdowne tomorrow and UCC on Sunday.