Two strikers, Colin Stewart of Corinthians and Stephen Stewart of Pembroke Wanderers, on whom Leinster are banking to make a successful chase of their inter-provincial title in Cork next weekend, notched hat-tricks with strong wrist-work in league games on Saturday.
Colin Stewart, a Tasmanian who joins his fellow Australian Paul Armitage in the Leinster squad, put the finishing touches to Corinthians' 4-1 win over Railway Union at Park Avenue, particularly in the second half when his side attacked relentlessly.
Brendan Parsons, assisted by Owen Butler, pushed Railway ahead but Robbie Burns sent Stewart scooting clear to equalise. Before the interval, Teddy Lynch was foiled by the vigilant Peter Darley of regaining the lead for the home team. Then, though it looked for a while that Conor O'Brien would stem the tide, Wesley Rothwell and an irrepressible Cormac Byrne found openings for Stewart and Tom Connell to make it 3-1 before the Tasmanian increased the margin from a penalty stroke.
It was also 1-1 at half-time at Serpentine Avenue, where Aer Lingus managed to cancel out a Pembroke goal by Max La Nos from Rouen when Dave Bane converted a penalty gained by Jan-Willem Findlater (back from The Hague) following a short corner. In the first attack of the second period, the much-involved Bane had a shot saved by Nigel Henderson at point-blank range. This stung Pembroke - fielding Michiel Tijs from Utrecht at right-back - to respond with a full press which yielded five goals in 10 minutes and ultimately, with Stephen Stewart netting three drag flicks, they won 9-1.
Three Rock Rovers, with two goals apiece from Gordon Elliott and Garry Ringwood against YMCA at Grange Road, stayed abreast of Pembroke at the top of the table. Avoca trailed 2-1 in Kilkenny with 15 minutes to go before rallying to take the points from the bottom club, 3-2.
Mark Magnier scored twice for the young Kilkenny side, only for Enda Gallanagh to bring Avoca level, and Trevor Dagg seized victory from the penalty spot. The south-easterners, though, will take heart from this performance against the high-pedigree Dubliners.
Glenanne, too, came from behind but only to salvage a 3-3 draw with Monkstown at Rathdown after the home team had led 3-0 after 25 minutes. Dextrous strikes by Justin Sherriff and South African Greg Heger (2) left the visitors reeling before they recovered with set-piece goals by Stephen Stewart (2) and Alan Brown.
Midfielder Cliff Bailey of Monkstown, who played for Ireland at under-18 level last season, adds a touch of youth to the Leinster squad. Along with Colin Stewart, Bailey is a new cap and comes in for the injured Galahad Goulet in the party which was finalised by coach Peter Murphy over the weekend. There is one newcomer in the Munster squad, Philip Chambers of Harlequins.
The Ireland under-21 captain, David Smyth of Annadale, has withdrawn from the Ulster team because of injury.
On Saturday, the Ulster champions Instonians were held 2-2 by Banbridge, for whom Rory Madeley snatched an equaliser three minutes from time. The surprise of the opening series was the 3-1 defeat of Lisnagarvey at Cookstown.
