There were few surprises in the Bermuda Hockey Association's first weekend of play after the Christmas break.

Only one game was played in the Women's A League with Canaries taking Cardinals to task with a 2-1 victory.

Canaries played with determination the entire game and kept the Reds running. But Cardinals made a strong rally late in the second half after Lakae Dill scored following a goalmouth scramble.

Cardinals' B squad enjoyed a more successful outing against Canaries, however, walking off the pitch with a 4-0 rout of the opposition.

Cardinals dominated from the outset, netting three goals in the first half.

Making her debut for Cardinals after defecting from Swifts, Erica Frith endeared herself to her new team with a hat-trick.

Frith put Cardinals ahead in the first 10 minutes and the team quickly doubled their lead when a cross by Candy Foggo found Tania Theriault on the far post, who slotted the ball past the Canaries keeper.

Frith then made it 3-0 just before the half with a great reverse stick shot at goal.

The pace of the game slowed slightly in the second half and Canaries found themselves with a few opportunities to score but couldn't quite find the finishing touch.

Cardinals only managed to score once more - thanks to some fine goalkeeping by Canaries' Tami Ray - when Frith found the net again, neatly completing her hat-trick and ensuring a winning start to the new year for Cardinals.

In other B league action, Bluebirds put down a Ravens squad missing several key players, 1-0.

After marking their first win just before Christmas, Ravens played a competitive, evenly-matched game against Bluebirds despite the loss.

They attacked well throughout and kept a lid on the Bluebirds attack with some strong defensive play by Angie Rohlmann.

Two good saves from the Blues 'keeper kept Ravens off the scoreboard.

Katie-Jane Orton had a shot on goal deflected and Amanda Tomkins went for the rebound immediately after only to be denied by the 'keeper again.

In the end, Bluebirds broke the deadlock, finding their way through the Ravens defence to score.

Rebels started the new year with a win in the Men's League by defeating Upstarts 4-1.

The first half of the match was a fairly even affair with both sides earning chances at goal which were denied by strong defending.

Upstarts took the lead early in the second half when Neil Carroll scored a bullet of a goal from the edge of the circle.

This only served to spur the Rebels into action, however, as Scott DeCosta quickly netted an equaliser and the push was on for the win.

Winger Simon Farrington's hat-trick in the latter part of the second half gave Rebels a comfortable win.