with a 6-1 thrashing of pointless Swifts. Second-placed Cardinals, meanwhile, went down 2-1 to Orioles.

Bluebirds dominated their match with good skills and excellent team play, scoring four unanswered goals in the first half.

Linda Pitkethly, Collette Doughty (2) and Ali Anson netted before the break to put Bluebirds in total control, although Swifts continued to battle despite conceding a further goal early in the second half when Doughty completed her hat-trick.

Swifts eventually scored a consolation goal through Megan Spurling but Bluebirds had the last word when Anson notched her second and the team's sixth in the last couple of minutes.

Doughty was voted Bluebirds' MVP and despite giving up six goals, Swifts goalie Amie Dawson was singled out following a number of fine saves.

The other A League match saw Orioles edge Cardinals 2-1 in a lacklustre affair, taking a 2-0 lead by the half before Cardinals fought back with a goal from Maria Pichery after the break.

Orioles took over top spot in the B League with a 3-0 win over bottom team Cardinals. Orioles dominated in the first half, scoring twice through Claudette Sherwood and Susan Elton.

A more evenly balanced and faster paced second half saw Orioles capitalise on their possession by scoring a third through Elton.

Bluebirds picked up their first win in the B League when they dominated a young and inexperienced Swifts team on their way to a 2-0 success.

Liz Stewart put the much-improved Bluebirds into the lead 10 minutes after the start and it stayed that way until half-time. Bluebirds continued to dominate in the second half and held onto their lead despite several breakaway chances by Swifts' Megan Spurling, before MVP Nicola Wilkinson added a second goal.