Harlequins, Hermes and Pegasus, the champions of Munster, Leinster and Ulster, are showing no signs of relinquishing their grips on their respective titles, maintaining their 100 per cent winning starts to the season in Saturday's league fixtures. Irish forward Karen O'Brien helped herself to a hat-trick in Harlequins' 7-0 win over Belvedere in Cork, while her international team-mate Kim Mills was amongst the scorers in a 3-0 victory for Pegasus against Ballymoney.

Hermes, though, didn't have it so easy at Park Avenue where Railway Union made them work hard for their three points - Deirdre McDermott and Caitriona Carey gave the title holders a 2-0 win. Old Alexandra, Leinster Senior A leaders on goal difference, had an even more testing afternoon, narrowly beating Genesis 2-1.

Loreto were indebted to a goal from Mary Barnwell, who returned from retirement last week, which gave them a 1-0 win over Pembroke Wanderers. Trinity's 4-2 victor against Muckross moved them to fourth in the table.