Rhonda Rawlins fired them ahead with a hard close range shot early in the first half and added her team's third goal in the same manner after Emma Garon had scored from a well executed short corner.

Sarah Smith reduced the deficit before the break and Bluebirds continued to fight back after the interval with Ailsa Campbell adding a second.

Canaries then restored their two goal advantage through Stacey DeShields, but Campbell's second goal kept Bluebirds in touch.

However, the Yellows sealed victory in the dying minutes when Garon netted from the top of the circle from a long rebound.

Canaries' closest rivals, Orioles and Cardinals, shared the spoils in the weekend's other A Division match, drawing 2-2.

Claudette Sherwood gave Orioles the lead but Cardinals quickly responded with a goal from Maria Pichery who outran the entire defence. The score remained tied until Marcia Ford put Orioles back in front in the second half, but Brenda Smith hit a second equaliser for Cardinals following a short corner from Eva Dillas.

In the B Division, leaders Swallows, beaten for the first time last week, suffered further setbacks when they lost again -- 1-0 to Orioles -- and were held to a 1-1 draw by Cardinals in two matches over the weekend.

Swallows dominated in the first half against Orioles but fell behind to a Liz Adderley goal and despite constant pressure couldn't break through their opponents' defence.

Against Cardinals, Swallows took the lead with a superb goal from Nicola Wilkinson but tired in the second half, allowing M.Roberts to hit an equaliser.

Canaries and Bluebirds drew 2-2 in the remaining B match. Deborah Flanagan and Ingrid McKenna scored for Bluebirds with Canaries replying through Ali Cameron.

RUGBY RUG First division leaders Renegades slumped to their first defeat of the season on Sunday, going down 17-9 to nearest challengers Teachers.

But 'Gades still hold a four point advantage atop the standings.

Teachers led at the half 5-3 thanks to a well-taken try by winger Dave Cooke with Renegades replying through a Phil Heaney penalty.

Heaney then nailed two more penalties to put 'Gades ahead 9-5, but in slippery conditions Teachers weren't to be denied as they roared back with two well taken tries.

A third try then followed with Butch Robinson showing his opponents a clean pair of heels as he raced 40 yards to put the ball under the posts for Mike Montgomery to convert.

Sunday's second match saw bottom team Police pile on the pressure for the first 20 minutes against Mariners but fail to turn their territorial advantage into points as they went down 15-0.

Mariners gradually took control thanks to the influence of Keith Hodgkins who along with Rob Morgan shared his team's point scoring.

Police lost Sean Field with a broken ankle and then lost Terry Maxwell who was sent off along with Stephen Robb of Mariners.

Maxwell's early shower means he is likely to miss this Sunday's George Duckett Shield match at Police Field along with Field and a number of other injured Police players.

POOL POO Gary Bascome and Charlie Simmons were the winners of the Chopper Challenge Tournament on the weekend when they defeated Brian Walker and Rob Williams 3-0.

Bascome recently won the Gosling Cup Tournament when he beat Mike Burgess 4-1 while Dennis Parsons stopped Eddie Roberts 4-2 to take the Heineken Cup Trophy.