Panthers seem to have a lock on the top of the men’s hockey league after taking down challengers Polecats 5-2 on Sunday.

In a match in which neither squad successfully converted any short corner attempts — Panthers going nought for five and Polecats nought for four — Matt Spencer ensured the winners were first on the board with a goal five minutes into play.

His lead was soon followed by captain Dave Horan, whose open play goal closed the half at 2-0 for Panthers.

Horan netted again ten minutes into the second half and team-mate Dominick Wright shored them up with another goal to double the tally.

Polecats were undeterred, however, and fought hard in the last ten minutes to pull back two goals.

Nigel Deane struck to bring the score to 4-1 but a penalty stroke awarded to Panthers in the 67th minute stole the momentum.

Spencer slotted the stroke away and, while Steve Simmons grabbed a late goal for Polecats, the match was well out of reach.

In the other men’s match, Chameleons outscored Rebels 6-4.

Jonathan Dodd banged four goals in the winning effort while team-mates Mark Pettingill and Pete Illston chipped in with one apiece.

Danny Stovell, Darren Lednor, Simon Van De Weg and Neil Honess all scored for Rebels.

Panthers lead the league with 15 points while Polecats follow on 12, trailed by Chameleons with nine, Upstarts with seven and Rebels with four.

Meanwhile, Swallows continue to dominate the women’s A league. They shut out Swifts 6-0 on Sunday with Jenny Burrell bagging a hat-trick and Hannah Ellison, Jenny Chattock and Kascia White contributing one each.

Wildcats also picked up three points on the weekend with a 5-3 victory over Canaries.

Maria Pichery, Christianthi Bartley, Karen Campbell, Enda-Mae Tuzo and Susanna Almeida were the goalscorers for Wildcats while Lisa DeSilva, Rhonda Rawlins and Georgie Drover netted one each for Canaries.

The B League meeting between Canaries and Wildcats ended in a 2-2 draw with Rhiannon Bedford and Nicola Bird hitting the mark for Canaries and Alecia Holder and Brittni DeSilva answering for Wildcats.

Ravens moved into top position on the B table with a 2-1 victory over Bluebirds.

Ellie Reoch put Bluebirds first on the board but second-half goals from Ravens’ Anna Heard and Alex Wheatley stole the match.

Swifts B also picked up a win, taking out Swallows 4-2.

Keishae Robinson and Jasmine Patterson each scored two goals in the winning effort while Grainne Sweeney and Joanne Kingsbury had one each for Swallows.