HOCKEY:As the Leinster first division approaches the halfway stage of the season four clubs remain unbeaten - Pembroke Wanderers, Railway Union, Loreto and Hermes - but those records should be tested tomorrow, not least when the top two, Pembroke and Railway, meet at Serpentine Avenue.
Last season's top two, Loreto and Hermes, who now fill the third and fourth spots in the table, could probably do with Pembroke and Railway extending their undefeated run by drawing tomorrow. Railway are a point behind Pembroke but have a game in hand (at home to UCD).
Hermes missed the chance to close the four-point gap between themselves and Pembroke when they drew with the leaders on Monday night, so can't afford any slip-ups against Old Alexandra at Booterstown tomorrow.
Similarly, Loreto, who will lose Cathy McKean, Louisa Healy and Nikki Symmons to international duty for the bulk of the second half of the season, will need to take the points from their game away to Trinity.
Loreto can safely claim to be the only Irish club with a former player included in the 2007 world "All Star Team" named this week, with Australian Peta Gallagher, who played for the Leinster champions for part of the 1999-2000 season, selected as one of the five forwards. Eleven nations have representatives on the 18-player squad, Holland (four players), Germany (three), Australia (two), Argentina (two), Spain, Japan, USA, England, South Africa, China and Korea (all one).
Back home Ulster will be going for an under-16 interprovincial three-in-a-row in Galway.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday - Under-16 Interprovincial Tournament (at Galway): Connacht v South East, 9.0; Leinster v Munster, 11.0; Ulster v South East, 2.0; Connacht v Munster, 3.30; Leinster v Ulster, 5.0. Irish Senior Cup, Third round: Belfast Harlequins v Pegasus, Deramore, 1.0. Leinster League, Division One: Trinity v Loreto, Santry, 10.15; UCD v Corinthian, Belfield, 11.10; Pembroke Wanderers v Railway Union, Ballsbridge, 2.0; Genesis v Three Rock Rovers, Belfield, 2.30; Hermes v Old Alexandra, Booterstown, 2.30. Division Two: Old Alexandra II v Glenanne, Booterstown, 12.30; Corinthian II v Railway Union II, Whitechurch, 1.0; Loreto II v Hermes II, Beaufort, 2.15; Bray v Pembroke Wanderers II, Bray, 3.0; Clontarf v Suttonians, Clontarf, 3.30. Munster League, Division One: Church of Ireland v Belvedere, Garryduff, 1.30; UCC v Ashton, Mardyke, 1.0; Cork Harlequins v Bandon, Farmers Cross, 2.0; Catholic Institute v Univ of Limerick, Rosbrien, 12.30.
Sunday - Under-16 Interprovincial Tournament (at Galway): South East v Munster, 9.0; Connacht v Leinster, 10.30; Munster v Ulster, 12.0; Leinster v South East, 1.30; Connacht v Ulster, 3.0. Leinster Jacqui Potter Cup, First round: Suttonians v Glenanne, Sutton, 3.0; Railway Union v Old Alexandra, Sandymount, 4.0; Three Rock Rovers v Bray, Grange Road, 4.0; Trinity v Pembroke II, Santry, 4.0.
