But it didn't happen! Swifts, with one previous win in 13 matches, produced the biggest shock of the season when they beat Orioles 2-1 to hand them their first defeat.

Orioles got off to a good start when Beverley Mosher scored midway through the first half, but Swifts equalised after the interval before netting the surprise winner.

Second-placed Canaries dropped a valuable point when they could only manage a 0-0 draw with Cardinals. That result left Canaries two points behind Orioles with one game remaining. Orioles still have two to play.

Cardinals strengthened their grip on second place in the A League, beating Canaries 2-1.

However, Bluebirds' win last weekend over Canaries meant that they cannot be caught at the top where they still lead by four points over Cardinals who have just one game remaining.

Ali Cameron put Canaries ahead in the first half, but shortly afterwards Cardinals' Marie Pichery scored the equaliser with a spectacular reverse stick flick. Caroline Tytheridge then hit Cardinals' winner five minutes into the second half.

In the other A League match Swifts and Orioles drew 1-1 as the gap between Orioles and Cardinals widened to four points. Just minutes before half-time Gail Thorne netted for Orioles but Swifts fought back in the second half and gained their first point of the season thanks to a Chrisanthi Bartley goal in the 47th minute.

SAILING SLG Alexandria (A.J.) Crane produced a near perfect performance to emerge the winner during Optimist Dinghy racing held over the weekend.

In cool, northerly winds ranging from 12-20 knots, Crane avoided any major errors to record four first place finishes and a second to take the five race series with five points.

Zander Kirkland sailed well for second place with 11 points, while Alexander Lines (15) was third. An intriguing fourth place duel between Alex Jones and Giles Spurling ended with both on 18 points, but Jones topped her rival by virtue of a higher place finish.

The breezy conditions resulted in the Novice Class being reduced to a three race series. Alan Frith won with three and a half points while Edward Thompson (53 ) placed second and A.J. Black third.

All-American sailor Brett Davis, who is set to coach the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club's Advanced group this summer, both locally and in major regional events among the New England area and Canada, was on hand to observe the races.