Teams returned from the long Christmas break raring to play last weekend but only half the scheduled matches took place as play on Sunday was cancelled due to wet pitches.

Despite a rainy morning, matches still took place at Saltus on Saturday and the 5-1 Rebels victory over BCS Panthers was a key men's result.

The win shoots Rebels to the top of the league table, displacing Police Polecats for the first time this season.

A full strength Rebels side took to the field against Panthers, who were missing a few experienced players.

Rebels controlled play throughout the first half generating a number of chances that Panthers' keeper Kevin Hill was able to deny.

But the pressure did pay-off before the half, however, when Mark Ray weathered a series of tackles before calmly slotting the ball into the goal from close range.

The second half saw Rebels re-apply pressure and add a second goal courtesy of Simon Farrington and then a third after an impressive solo run and powerful shot from Bert Rodney.

Rebels wavered, however, and allowed Panthers to sneak in a goal.

After sustained pressure Matt Spencer placed a well-taken short corner.

But Panthers comeback aspirations were soon quashed when Rebels re-established control and Mark Ray and Simon Farrington replied with goals in quick succession to secure the win.

Rebels now have 15 points and sit atop the league with a 5-2 record. Just one point back are Polecats with a 4-2-1 record.

The loss was Panthers' fourth of the season but the schoolboy team is still on form to have its best season ever with a 2-1-4 record and seven points keeping them above the winless Chameleons with just 3 points.

In women's play, Swallows and Cardinals squared in both A and B matches.

The B teams played a more balanced affair which see-sawed throughout the hard-played match. A mother-daughter combination play eventually secured the winning goal for Cards however.

Eleven-year-old Helen Marshall passed a neat ball to her mother, Wendy Cassidy, who put it away and the undefeated Cards grabbed their 1-0 win.

Laden with fresh bodies in the A match however, Swallows quickly asserted their dominance over Cards, many of whom were B players stepping into a second match.

Within four minutes, Swallows were up by three goals. They continued their scoring run almost unchallenged in the first half and went to the break confident at 6-0.

Cards managed to pull themselves together in the second half and began to control Swallows' attack. Laura Bardgett took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to net the only goal for the Reds and the game ended 6-1 for Swallows.