Upsets and penalty-flick endings defined a wild weekend in women's hockey as surprise winners emerged from the Knockout Cup tournament for both the A and B leagues at National Sport Centre.

The A league title went to Canaries on Sunday while the underdog Swifts' squad showed their mettle in the B league by surprising everyone and capturing first prize.

League champions in both divisions, Swallows, were knocked out on the first day of play.

Swifts B played a determined final match against Canaries B on Sunday for their title after knocking back Swallows in the semi-finals.

The young team walked away with a 3-0 victory, having dominated much of the play.

Canaries only penetrated Swifts' circle once in the entire first half.

While Swifts attacked throughout the first 30 minutes, the score was deadlocked 0-0 at the break.

Swifts then changed their penalty corner routine and on the second run-through Lucy Hollis picked up the ball on the left side and beat the Canaries' keeper.

Mandy Oliver held midfield control and Kristin Law stepped up to score the second for Swifts five minutes later.

Canaries managed to force two penalty corners in the last five minutes of the game but failed to convert and Swifts' Hollis beat two defenders to net the final goal.

It was a crowning moment for Swifts who were riding high after shocking Swallows - previously undefeated in B league play - on Saturday.

The two squads battled to a draw partly through the efficient goalkeeping of Swifts' Christine Barnard.

Swifts then took the game by a 2-0 margin in penalty strokes to move through to the final.

The young team had earned their spot in the semis with a 1-0 win over Bluebirds B.

Both Canaries B and A squads also made their way into the finals via heart-wrenching penalty stroke shoot-outs following two draws in matches against the respective Cardinals' sides in the semis.

In the end, Canaries A faced Bluebirds in the Sunday showdown.

Bluebirds came out strong and caught Canaries by surprise with Joanne Wilson, Ellen Charnley and Sarah Smith firing shots at the `keeper, although none hit the back of the net.

Canaries started to attack towards the end of the first half and a goalmouth scramble resulted in a successful penalty flick which put them1-0 ahead.

Bluebirds fought hard to equalise in the second hard with several near misses and one shot hitting the post but it was Canaries who converted for another goal.

There were fewer surprises in the men's league as champions Chameleons held on to win the cup against BCS Panthers on Sunday.