Laura Bardgett slammed five goals as Cardinals A overwhelmed Swifts in ladies hockey league action on the weekend.

Bardgett netted her first from Edna-Mae Tuzo's cross shortly after Maria Pichery had given her side the lead with a penalty stroke. Jessica Sousa then scored from the top of the D with an assist from Brenda Smith before Megan Spurling pulled one back for Swifts with a fine shot.

Bardgett then went on her goal spree, while Erica Frith replied for Swifts.

Only some fine saves by Jenna Robinson prevented the score being worse for Swifts.

Canaries A 3 Orioles A 0 Canaries had to work harder for this victory than the final score suggests in a fast and physical game. The Yellows kept Orioles' defence busy and finally found a way through when Rhonda Rawlins and Lisa DeSilva combined with the former getting the final touch.

Zina Jones almost equalised for Orioles, beating two defenders and drawing the Canaries goalkeeper out of position, only to send her shot wide. Michelle Ming made her opponents pay for that miss, netting after a pass from DeSilva, before Rawlins got her second with a clever flick.

Swallows A 2 Bluebirds A 5 Bluebirds came from behind to win a closer game than it appears on paper.

Cathy Griffiths opened the scoring for Swallows with a cracking shot from a short corner penalty within the first five minutes. Then Rebecca Pettingill scored her first goal of the season with a great strike from the top of the D.

Laura West got one back for Bluebirds just before the break and after the interval her side really stepped up the pressure as Sarah Maltby, Ellen Charnley, Melissa Milano and Ailsa Campbell all got on the scoresheet.

But Bluebirds had goalkeeper Carla Pedro, who made some superb saves, to thank for the margin of their victory.

Orioles B 1 Canaries B 2 Ali Cameron scored twice to give Canaries victory in this close encounter. She put Canaries ahead with a hard hit just wide of the goalkeeper and after Linda Perry levelled the scores, she netted again from a penalty corner just before half-time.

Bluebirds B 3 Swallows B 1 Swallows dominated the first half but were unable to make their superiority count and they suffered when Denise O'Donaghue scored her first ever goal to put the Blues in front.

Liz Osborne made some fine saves before Melissa Milano scored the second following a goalmouth scramble. Melanie Burns got one back for Swallows 15 minutes later, but Ingrid McKenna's breakaway down the right resulted in a pass to Candy Foggo who shot home just seconds before the final whistle.

Swifts B 2 Cardinals B 1 Swifts pulled off a victory over second-placed Cardinals despite being without a coach.

Emily Leitch got the first early on following Fiona Lee's assist and then goalmaker turned goalscorer shortly after the break when Lee was on target.

Cardinals thought they had got a reply from a penalty flick but the resulting goal was disallowed due to excessive movement by the flick taker. Cardinals did eventually get on the scoresheet but it was not enough.