Schoolgirls stole the limelight in the opening league hockey matches of the new season over the weekend as Swifts' B squad - with every player under 16 years old - handed a 2-1 loss to the veteran Orioles, while their A league counterparts managed to hold on for a 0-0 draw against the same.

Coach Dai Hermann-Smith said this year's B squad out of Saltus was one of the strongest he had seen in years. "I have a squad of 23 under-16s," he said. "I think they will play really good hockey this season. There is quite a lot of talent there."

Key players to watch in the young squad include captain Amy Smith, weekend standout Tse Minors and Keishae Robinson along with the two Brittanys (Farias and Uddin), said the coach.

But a large team - including five rookies - has Hermann-Smith planning to give every player a run-out this season, even if it costs in terms of league standing.

His B team hopped into form early, however, with Ashley Gillis taking a reverse stick shot on goal in the fourth minute. The shot was saved by the Orioles' keeper but Tse Minors was there for the rebound to slot home the first goal.

Keishae Robinson kept up the momentum, taking a shot from a penalty corner which went just wide five minutes later. But Orioles were hardly ready to concede and scored on a breakaway after the missed penalty.

Paget Holland then stepped up for Swifts, shooting straight at the `keeper after solid approach work, only to be denied. Despite two more penalty corners the score remained 1-1 at the half.

But Minors was back in form immediately in the second half. She picked up the ball from the left edge of the circle and frustrated two defenders before calmly slotting into the back of the net.

Six more shots on goals followed from Swifts - two from Holland and a rebound from Abby Hill - but fell short.

Minors fought for a hat-trick, taking two more attempts on goal in the dying minutes and a promising looking Robinson effort hit the sideboard.

Meanwhile, all their B league rivals played to draws, putting Swifts alone at the top of the league. Cardinals and Canaries stalled at 1-1 while Swallows and Bluebirds battled to a 0-0 result.

Cards' A team were more successful, taking Canaries down 3-2 while Swallows A handed the Bluebirds a 5-3 loss.

A men's league shake-up this summer, which saw the defections of Justin Freisenbruch, Stuart Mackellar and Nigel Deane to Police Polecats, has already paid off in interesting results as Polecats earned a 2-1 upset over much-favoured Rebels.

While the game was evenly balanced in the first few minutes, hard running from Polecats' midfield - Mackellar, Deane and Carle Seale - created openings in the Rebels defence despite the marshalling of Bert Rodney.

After Polecats failed to convert two clear chances, however, the ever dangerous Rebels struck with a fast break, eased by defensive blunders, to take a 1-0 lead after ten minutes.

Play swung from end to end until early in the second half when a goal from Seale pumped up Polecats' confidence.

The backline, led by Freisenbruch, held firm and Polecats struck again 28 minutes into the second half.

A build-up from the midfield left Polecats at the top of the circle with the defenders scrambling to mark forwards Uddin and Burt, whose one-time bullet screamed into the back of the goal.

The final seven minutes were a see-saw affair but Polecats secured their opening upset.

In the other men's match, BCS Panthers fell to a 2-0 loss to Upstarts.

Panthers seemed slow and tired during the first half. Kevin Hill had a busy afternoon in goal making several fine saves to foil the persistent Upstart forwards.

He was eventually beaten by a debut goal from Donny Moniz, earning success with a reverse stick, short corner shot.

The schoolboys shifted into gear with some hard midfield work from Logan Alexander, Chris Chapman, Gregory Rose and newcomer Harry Wolffe to create some decent chances on the other end.

Upstarts keeper Scott DaCosta stopped on the line a goal-bound shot late in the half. But Upstarts pressure paid off as Martin Murphy secured the second goal.