In the final weekend of play before the Christmas break Rebels earned a win to move into second in the men's league, defeating Upstarts 3-0.

It was the second meeting for the two teams, having squared off to a 1-1 draw earlier in the season.

Both teams made significant changes to their line-ups in the pursuit of the points.

Upstarts' midfield of Neil Carroll, Keir Savage and John Bronson succeeded in keeping the Rebels at bay for the first half.

But a more resolved Rebels team took the field after the break.

Upstarts defence were under pressure with Kirk Edmunds making a run that resulted in a penalty stroke being awarded.

Jamal Burgess stepped up for the conversion.

As Rebels continued to press, Dave Gutteridge made a solo run into the Upstarts defence, squeaking past a stretching Mark Norman before finding the back of the net.

Edmunds was then back to put his own stamp on the closing goal.

Minutes from the end of the match Upstarts' Martin Murphy nearly snatched the shut out from Rebels' keeper Mike Smith but failed to connect to a Carroll pass in to the shooting area.

In the only other men's match played BCS Panthers took a 3-0 walkover victory over Police Polecats.

Both Canaries and Ravens were able to close 2002 on a victorious note in the women's A League.

Canaries snatched a 2-0 win from Cardinals despite a hard-fought match from the reds.

Cards A were doubly hit as, in addition to the loss, they were among four teams penalised by BHF with a one-point deduction for fielding unregistered players. Also losing one point were Swifts A and B squads and Police Polecats.

Canaries had their first opportunity when Lisa DeSilva was fouled in the shooting area and awarded a penalty stroke.

But Cards' keeper Holly Simons was there to play hero and DeSilva was denied.

Undeterred, Desilva - already the A league leading scorer - took a pin-point pass from Stacey DeSheilds, knocking it reverse stick past the keeper into the far corner.

A solid attacking build-up by the Canaries bore fruit when Emma Simmons pounced on a loose ball and lifted shot over Simons' head to secure the points.

Meanwhile, Ravens played hard to take Orioles out 4-1.

Orioles were looking for their first win of the season but ran into a stubborn and determined Ravens squad.

Ana Anton pounced on a loose ball during a defensive scramble to start the scoring for Ravens.

Caroline Black followed soon after, banging a penalty corner home.

Orioles rallied briefly Heather Trimingham on Ravens' defence was more than up to the task to stop the attacking play.

A second penalty corner had the same result with Black again getting past Oriole's goal keeper Fiona Doe.

Orioles rallied after the break to net one goal but could not follow up.

Ravens' Louisa Bussey took a slip pass during another penalty corner to solidify the win.

Rain usurped the scheduled Swallows and Bluebirds match.

Cards held their place at the top of the B league with a 2-0 win over Canaries. Angelika Wilson combined with a puff of good luck to secure a slow moving first goal in the first half. The point moves newcomer Wilson into a tie as leading league scorer with Swallows' Jenny Burrell.

Patricia Holder fed a clean pass to an open Tania Theriault in the second half to put the game away for Cards.

In other B league play, Orioles and Ravens battled to a 1-1 draw and Bluebirds and Swallows had a nil-nil result.