Avoca: 2, Pembroke: 4

With Simon Kershaw seizing an opportunity to score in the first minute, Pembroke Wanderers went on to beat Avoca comfortably at Rathdown last night to strengthen their lead in the Leinster Senior Hockey League.

Devin Donnelly set up Andy Cooke to make it 2-0 by the interval and Pembroke went four up when Stephen Stewart, following a short corner, and the lively Kershaw added further goals in the second half.

Avoca rallied for Trevor Dagg to reply from a penalty stroke, Nigel Henderson having saved an earlier effort, and Anton Scott added a short-corner goal but it was too late to alter the outcome.

Colin Hutchinson of Ulster and Gary Quail of Munster have been appointed international umpires by the FIH at their recent meeting in Lausanne.