The title chase in the Women's Hockey B League may have been decided last weekend as Swallows secured a crucial 3-1 victory over their closest challengers, Cardinals.

From the outset, Swallows had Cardinals on the run using strong midfield play to attack mercilessly.

Jenny MacIntosh beat the Cards defence for the first goal, shooting past the `keeper from the top of the circle after a short corner. Cards tried to get back into the game using their trademark short passing game to move within scoring range several times but Swallows' solid defence stopped their drives.

Karen Campbell capitalised on a goalmouth scramble to take Swallows into the half with a 2-0 lead.

Cardinals managed to throw Swallows into defensive mode by starting the second half with a string of short corners but they lost a pivotal player when injury forced Candy Foggo out of the game.

Iesha Castle netted Cards' lone goal on one of these corners, popping the ball in from the post after the Swallows `keeper stopped a reverse stick shot from Erica Frith.

Swallows, however, held onto their lead and Jenny Burrell put the result beyond doubt from a Campbell cross.

The win puts Swallows four points ahead in the B league. Cards and Swallows are not slated to meet again this season so another B league team would have to pull off an upset over the undefeated Swallows to shake their grip on the title.

Also in B action, Canaries and Bluebirds played to a 1-1 draw.

Blues took the lead following a confusing goalmouth scramble which ended in a referee's decision that the ball had come off a Blues' stick on its way across the goal line.

Canaries attacked hard and came back with an equaliser in the dying minutes of the game when Rhiannon Wigley tapped home an initial shot by Nelleke Hollis.

Canaries notched a 1-0 win over Orioles in their second B match of the weekend.

Jane Edgett secured the winning goal early in the first half and despite spirited play from Orioles, Canaries held on for victory.

But Orioles also earned three points last weekend with a 3-0 win over Swifts.

A close first half took the teams to the break tied at 0-0 but Denise Downey broke the deadlock early in the second half.

Swifts replaced their goalkeeper with a kicking back in an effort to turn the tide but Orioles' Okina McGowan and Ingrid Pitt broke through for two more goals.

Swifts continued to fight and were awarded many short corners but couldn't convert them.

Swallows continued to run wild in the A league with a 4-1 rout of Cardinals.

Shelly Clement scored from a tight angle to put Swallows ahead and Cards levelled on a short corner.

But Swallows came back with three more goals which went unanswered. Kirsty Kelly netted two and Jenny Burrell added another.

Canaries chalked up a 3-1 win over Bluebirds.

Stacey Paynter pounced on a shot deflected off the Blues' `keeper's pad for Canaries first goal. Blues equalised early in the second but Canaries dug in for victory with Rhonda Rawlins netting two goals.

Men's league play saw Upstarts fall to a 4-0 loss at the hands of Chameleons.

Jonathan Dodd opened the scoring, and Mark Pettingill and Steve Moreton added one apiece before Dodd netted his second to close the match.

A men's league dogfight is up this weekend as Chameleons will be missing several key players when they face their only possible title challengers, Rebels.