field hockey on the weekend, beating Swifts 2-1 at Nationals.

Although Swifts lost all four encounters with Canaries this season, each game was close, with Sunday's match again proving to be a hard fought contest.

After being held by Swifts in a close first half, Canaries finally took the lead in the 42nd minute from a short corner. Rhonda Rawlins picked up the ball and passed it to Stacey DeShields who placed a well-timed pass onto the stick of Lisa DeSilva who scored with a push into the net.

Two minutes later Canaries scored again, this time through Rawlins after the Swifts defence had left players unmarked, allowing Rawlins to pick up a loose ball and beat the 'keeper.

Swifts' defence held firm for the rest of the game and managed to pull a goal back in the 61st minute when Cathie Hay took the ball from the half-way line to the goal-line before crossing for Kim Frith to calmly convert.

In a frantic nine minutes, Hay again broke away and drilled in a cross to Frith whose shot went high and wide as the champions hung on.

Cardinals edged Bluebirds 1-0 with a goal early in the second half. Margaret Weale brought the ball upfield and passed to Cash who drove into the circle and drilled the ball for Maria Pichery to one-time past Carla Pedro.

The win moved Cardinals into a tie for second place with Swallows on 26 points. Swallows beat Orioles 2-0 on goals in each half from Cath Griffiths and Karen Turner although Orioles' 'keeper Fiona Doe made some brilliant saves.

In the B League, Canaries beat Swifts 5-0 despite missing several of their key players. Linda Pollett scored a hat-trick and Ally Cameron two.

Cardinals held onto first place in the standings despite drawing 0-0 with Bluebirds.